Held at World Cup Park's Peace Plaza from Friday through Sunday, the three-day festival drew large crowds to its shrimp market, programs and stage performances — even as heavy rain and gusts forced organizers to cancel the closing show to keep visitors safe.
Mapo-gu's 19th Maponaeru Salted Shrimp Festival, held at World Cup Park's Peace Plaza from Friday through Sunday, concluded safely despite rough weather on its final day.
Held under the slogan "Have a taste of salted shrimp — Mapo-gu has it ready for you," this year's festival was billed as a cultural exchange bridging history, tradition and community. Despite being cut short on its last day due to heavy rain and strong gusts, the three-day event drew large crowds and reaffirmed its standing as one of the country's signature autumn festivals.
The festival opened Friday morning with a traditional magistrate's procession that set off from the Mapo-gu district office plaza at 10:30 a.m.
District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun, dressed as a magistrate, chose to walk the route to World Cup Park's Peace Plaza rather than ride in a traditional palanquin, stopping along the way to shake hands and greet spectators — setting a tone of community engagement from the very start.
Once the procession reached the waterfront stage at Peace Plaza, a harbor-arrival reenactment brought to life the bustling scene of Joseon-era Maponaeru, where boats laden with salted shrimp once docked. Traditional music performer Park Ae-ri added a ceremonial blessing to the occasion.
The magistrate then inspected freshly arrived salted shrimp brought in on a traditional yellow-sailed boat before granting permission to dock — a scene that drew rapt attention from the crowd. A communal folk-play performance that followed lifted the festive atmosphere further.
Fresh salted shrimp and regional specialties from across the country filled the festival grounds, and the market's 38 vendor booths stayed busy throughout — even on rainy days.
Twelve booths dedicated to salted shrimp — four more than last year — showcased varieties from Ganggyeong, Gwangcheon, Sinan, Buan and Sorae, drawing steady streams of visitors. However, prices ran somewhat higher than in previous years, and the heavy downpour on the final day weighed on sales.
Fourteen booths offering regional specialty products and 16 food stalls — including booths specializing in shrimp dishes — also drew strong foot traffic throughout the event.
The food stalls used reusable containers in place of single-use items, contributing to the festival's push to promote eco-friendly practices.
Shrimp-themed activities proved a highlight, with visitors of all ages making salted shrimp kimchi, rolling shrimp kimbap and catching live shrimp.
On the opening day, a kimchi-making session with salted shrimp brought together 22 foreign participants and members of the West Seoul Agricultural Cooperative Women's Association. The kimchi they made was donated to low-income households in the area.
Saturday brought one of the festival's most eye-catching moments: 38 children split into two teams and rolled a 19-meter shrimp kimbap alongside culinary researcher Lee Hye-jeong in an event called "Big Mama and the 19-Meter Shrimp Kimbap Roll." The activity carried special meaning as a nod to the festival's 19th anniversary and drew an enthusiastic response.
A shrimp-catching experience, open throughout the festival, proved popular across all age groups — from young children to elderly visitors — and kept energy levels high on the festival grounds.
As evening fell each night, music and song filled Peace Plaza, with popular singers and a nationwide parents' singing contest rounding out the entertainment lineup.
The opening ceremony on Friday, hosted by comedian Kim Han-seok, began with performances by a boys' and girls' choir and a traditional orchestra, before singers Jeong Dong-ha, Hong Gyeong-min, Ali and Maya brought the crowd to its feet. The waterfront stage then hosted a special TBS open-air broadcast, "Autumn Concert: Rest," featuring singers Jeong Su-ra, Hyeon-suk, Mokbi, Hyeondang and Ilmin.
Saturday's centerpiece was the Nationwide Mom and Dad Singing Contest, one of the festival's signature programs this year. More than 200 parents from across the country entered the preliminary round, and 21 finalists took the stage after advancing through stiff competition.
The finalists delivered performances that rivaled professional singers, and the personal stories woven into their songs moved the audience deeply. Guest singers Kim Sung-hwan, Jadu and Yoon Su-hyeon also drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
With rain forecast for Sunday, the final day of the festival, Mapo-gu took preemptive safety measures — erecting large tents and completing facility inspections ahead of time.
When heavy rain and strong gusts persisted, District Mayor Yoo canceled all afternoon programs as well as the closing show, which had included fireworks and a laser display. The decision allowed the festival to conclude without any injuries or safety incidents.
The 33rd Mapo Residents' Day ceremony, originally scheduled for 5 p.m. at the festival grounds, was relocated to the main auditorium on the second floor of the Mapo-gu district office. The ceremony honored residents who have dedicated themselves to the development of the local community.
"I am sincerely grateful to the residents who joined us for the 19th Maponaeru Salted Shrimp Festival and to the visitors who traveled from afar," District Mayor Yoo said. "Just as a generous handful of salted shrimp embodies the warmth of sharing, I hope this festival has left everyone with a warm memory of connecting with neighbors and with one another."
He added that the laughter, cheers and warmth that filled Peace Plaza during the festival were "a precious asset for Mapo," and pledged to build on 19 years of history and tradition for next year's 20th anniversary. "We will add even greater joy and emotion to create a festival that stands as Mapo's pride and a lasting memory for all," he said.
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