JEONNAM-GWANGJU — The ingredients of Namdo, South Korea's southwestern region, are being reborn in the alleys of Gwangju.
Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City said on the 30th that it will hold the 2026 Gwangju Gastronomy Week from Oct. 2 to 11 across the Gwangju area, showcasing the city's flavors and stories through a discount week, culinary trips, premium tours and hands-on programs.
This year's event turns the region's abundant ingredients into distinctly Gwangju tables. Following the stories behind each dish, participants will move through downtown alleys, cultural venues and local landmarks to discover what the city calls the essence of Gwangju's flavor.
The opening ceremony will take place Oct. 2 at Ogaheon in Dong-gu. Its theme is "Gaesi: Gwangju Lifts Its First Spoon."
The ceremony will feature cooking demonstrations using Namdo ingredients and an introduction to traditional liquors, presenting in one place the flow of Namdo cuisine from farm to table. A following talk show will include food columnist and chef Park Chan-il and Kim Sun-kyung, a daughter-in-law of the Nampa historic house lineage. Participants will discuss how Namdo cuisine is passed down and where culinary tourism should head next.
During the event, a Gastronomy Discount Week will let visitors sample restaurants across Gwangju at lower prices. A total of 71 establishments are taking part, including 42 stores tied to the Blue Ribbon guide and 31 businesses in the Yangnim Spoon Week program, after excluding two duplicates. Restaurants and bars will discount designated menu items by at least 10%. Cafes and bakeries will offer discounts of 20% or more.
Programs that let visitors handle and taste Namdo ingredients directly are also planned. The main offerings are culinary workshops and culinary trips. The workshops will be held twice, on Oct. 3 and Oct. 11.
The Oct. 3 session, "Between Figs and Autumn," will use seasonal figs. The Oct. 11 session, "Vegan Table," will feature vegan dishes made with produce from Naju and Gokseong.
Culinary trips that explore flavor and culture on foot through Gwangju's neighborhoods are also drawing attention.
There are three courses: "Modern Alleys and a Vegan Meal" in Yangnim-dong, "Old Downtown Culture and Vegan Chinese Cuisine" on Geumnam-ro, and "Birdwatching on the Green Way and Vegan Desserts" in Sansu-dong. Each course links local history, culture and nature to food. Participants walk through Gwangju by taste and experience it through stories. Souvenirs made from Namdo produce will be given to participants.
Premium products are also available for tourists seeking a deeper culinary experience. The Namdo Gastronomy Premium Tour is built around the theme "From Farm to Table," with three products in total: two day tours and one two-day, one-night tour.
"A Namdo Meal in Gwangju" pairs a seasonal Korean set menu with a visit to Hyusimjeong, a course that combines the city's flavors and scenery. "The Gourmet and the Gwangju Table" combines a walk through the Gwangju Lake Eco Park with a Korean set-menu meal.
The course lets visitors take in both the city's natural setting and a Namdo table. "My Own Meal Trip" is a two-day, one-night product linking distinctive Namdo dining with Juknokwon and the Lee Lee-nam Studio.
It is designed for a deeper experience of Namdo's food and culture. The culinary tours target visitors from outside the region, including Seoul and Busan. All products include admission to cartoonist Huh Young-man's exhibition "The Gourmet: Behind the Flavor."
Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City plans to expand Gwangju's culinary tourism on the back of the event. It will strengthen a culinary route that runs from Namdo's farms to Gwangju's tables and on to downtown alleys and cultural venues. The city also plans to turn the image of "Gwangju is gastronomy" into actual travel products.
"Gwangju Gastronomy Week is where the local flavors of Namdo packed into a single meal meet the history and culture of Gwangju," said Han Song-hwa, head of the tourism city division at Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City. "We hope travelers who come to Gwangju for the food will walk the city, stay a while and find a reason to return."
