Chilly Winds Signal Gwamegi Season: 26th Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival Opens Nov 15-16
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Pohang’s coastal town Guryongpo, known as the heartland of gwamegi (semi-dried Pacific saury or herring treated by cold wind and sea breeze), will host the 26th Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival on Nov. 15–16 at Ara Square. The event features about 20 booths offering discounted gwamegi sales, free tastings, interactive programs like eating contests and surprise auctions, and a new gwamegi kimbap (rolled rice) tasting booth aimed at younger visitors and foreign tourists. Opening day includes performances, an arm-wrestling contest, preliminary singing contests and a special guest trot singer; the second day continues with finals, trot shows and more auctions. Organizers expect the festival to boost the local economy and extend visitor stays by diversifying gwamegi products. Guryongpo produces over 70% of Korea’s gwamegi; the traditional winter seafood is prized for its unique flavor developed by cold drying and for its nutrients (omega-3, calcium, vitamin D, asparagine) and popularity as a wellness snack.
