Yangdong Back to the Market: Hongtak Festival

About the festival

The Yangdong Back to the Market Hongtak Festival combines fermented skate, a specialty of Gwangju's Yangdong Market, with locally produced cloudy rice wine to promote and revitalize the traditional market. Seven market merchants' associations participate, including Yangdong Market, Su Market, Yangdong Covered Shopping Arcade, Gyeongyeol-ro Market, Dried Seafood Market and Dakjeon-gil Market, working together to strengthen the combined shopping district and attract visitors. During the festival, food stalls serve skate and rice wine pairings, while KRW 1,000 makgeolli stalls offer local varieties such as Mudeungsan and Bia makgeolli for KRW 1,000 per cup. A receipt-based cashback event provides Onnuri gift certificates and skate tasting coupons. Cultural performances and special programs include an opening performance, a singing and dance talent contest, a skate-and-rice-wine meal competition with a culinary show by master chef An Yu-seong, and an EDM DJ party. The festival celebrates Yangdong Market's distinctive food culture, connecting traditions and generations at a traditional market in Gwangju.