Pohang city launched a nationwide promotion of Guryongpo gwamegi with a National Assembly event Wednesday, marking the start of this year's production and shipment season.
A two-day Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday at Ara Plaza in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, followed by a promotional tour of the Greater Seoul area beginning Nov. 16.
Guryongpo gwamegi — a wind-dried fish delicacy from Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and a signature winter specialty — has begun its first production and shipment of the season, with a promotional event held at the National Assembly to mark the occasion.
According to Pohang city, the "2026 Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Seoul Promotional Event" was held Wednesday at Seminar Room 1 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building, featuring programs highlighting the taste and nutritional value of the winter specialty.
Hosted by People Power Party lawmakers Kim Jeong-jae and Lee Sang-hwi, the event drew ruling and opposition party members alike, including PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik. Dishes prepared with the season's first-harvest gwamegi were showcased, with tasting programs introducing new ways to enjoy the delicacy. Comedian Jeong Beom-gyun and entertainer Kim Yeong-hui, known as "Sotonwang Maljahalmae," joined the event to add a lighthearted touch.
Pohang city plans to use the National Assembly event as the launchpad for a full nationwide promotional campaign for the 2026-2027 gwamegi season. The Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival will run Saturday and Sunday at Ara Plaza in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, before the city takes its roadshow to Seoul Station and other major locations across the Greater Seoul area starting Nov. 16. The metropolitan-area events will also feature other premium seafood products from Pohang.
This year's local shipment prices have risen nearly 20 percent compared to last year, however, as a decline in Pacific saury catches — the main raw material for gwamegi — has tightened supply.
Jang Cheon-su, head of the Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Business Cooperative, said the cost of imported Pacific saury raw materials had risen nearly 40 percent from previous years, but that members had worked to keep shipment prices as low as possible for consumers. "Looking ahead, we expect a serious imbalance in gwamegi raw material supply," Jang said, adding that this year's gwamegi would be more precious than ever.
Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon said gwamegi is a signature local product shaped by the clean waters of Donghae and the cold winter sea breeze, and that its flavor deepens as the temperature drops. "The city produces Pohang Guryongpo gwamegi with rigorous hygiene and quality controls so consumers can trust what they buy," Park said. "We hope you will enjoy Pohang Guryongpo gwamegi this coming winter and find renewed health and vitality."
tiger@heraldcorp.com
