Seocho-gu brings food culture to the streets with Bangbae Station Itgil Gourmet Road

Seocho-gu in Seoul will host the 2026 Bangbae Station Itgil Gourmet Road on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, bringing a range of food experiences to the Bangbae Station Itgil commercial district near Exit 3 of Bangbae Station, centered on Hyoryeong-ro 31-gil 31.

The event is designed to showcase the distinctive food offerings of the Bangbae Station Itgil commercial district — designated the 10th alley-type shopping street — and to drive foot traffic and spending that will inject new energy into the local economy. A food showcase featuring local merchants and university students will anchor the program, with promotional events running alongside to encourage visitors to explore the alley and sample its offerings.

Ten restaurants in the Bangbae Station Itgil district will take part in the food showcase, the centerpiece of the Gourmet Road. Five venues will participate on each day, presenting signature menu items alongside culinary content developed in collaboration with students from the food service department of Baekseok Arts University, highlighting the area's diverse food culture.

The district plans to link on-site events with commercial promotions so that food experiences translate into actual visits and purchases at participating stores. The aim is to encourage visitors who sample dishes at the event to return to the same establishments in the alley, spreading spending across the wider commercial district.

Alongside this, the district is working with design students from Baekseok Arts University to produce a Gourmet Road map and promotional materials for each participating store. The materials will continue to be used to promote the district after the event, helping visitors easily find the various shops along Bangbae Station Itgil. Through this collaboration among merchants, the university and the local community, the district aims to expand the commercial content they have developed together and raise the profile and competitiveness of Bangbae Station Itgil.

Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said he hoped the Gourmet Road would give many people the chance to enjoy the distinctive food offerings of Bangbae Station Itgil and discover the alley's appeal anew. "We will continue to develop a variety of programs that draw on the area's unique resources, so that Bangbae Station Itgil can establish itself as a vibrant alley commercial district that residents and visitors alike will want to return to," he said.