Gwangju's Famous 'Gwangju Pocha Street' Still Bound Within Illegal Framework

Endemic and Newtro Craze Turns Landmark Popular Among All Generations from Older to MZ

Operating for Over 50 Years Since 1970... 'Illegal' Title Still Lingers Behind the Scenes

Calls for Legalization to Address Institutional Issues Like Tras

The Gwangju Park pojangmacha (street food stall) street is rapidly emerging as a hotspot not only for the older generation but also for the MZ generation amid the 'endemic' and 'newtro' trends. However, voices are rising that systematic management is needed as it remains trapped within the framework of 'illegality.'

On the afternoon of the 22nd, the Gwangju Park pojangmacha street was as lively as any downtown area, shining brightly through the night.

On the 22nd, people of all ages gathered at the pojangmacha street in Gwangju Park, Gudo-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, creating a "nightscape." On one side of the park, general waste and food waste were left unattended.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

Located right next to Gwangju Park, the city’s first urban park, this area has been the last remaining pojangmacha street after more than 50 years since the 1970s, as other stalls near Mudeung Stadium, Gwangju Station, Donggyecheon, and other parts of Gwangju have disappeared.

With the 'retro craze,' people in their 20s take 인증샷 (certification photos) of the pojangmacha on social media, while office workers in their 50s soothe their daily hardships and loneliness with a drink after work. By 9 p.m., it was nearly impossible to find an empty seat as people of all ages visited.

However, behind this vibrant and nostalgic scene lies a pile of trash stacked along the roadside, food waste bins whose last cleaning time is unknown, and cigarette smoke wafting everywhere due to the absence of designated smoking areas, causing constant complaints from park users.

Moreover, this place is introduced as a recommended tourist destination on 'Omae Gwangju,' Gwangju’s culture, sports, and tourism website, and has established itself as a representative attraction of Gwangju. Ironically, Gwangju City continues to promote an unauthorized illegal operation as a local landmark.

Therefore, there are growing calls to legalize this area, operate it within the system, and systematically manage cleanliness issues such as trash to further develop it as a representative 'hot place' of the region.

Citizen safety is also a concern. With pojangmacha lined up on one side of the side road, there have been dangerous situations where cars pass right behind the chairs where customers are seated.

Despite more than 20 complaints about this area being filed annually with Gwangju City and Nam-gu Office, both authorities shift responsibility to each other. Since the Gwangju pojangmacha area falls under Nam-gu’s jurisdiction, the city says, "Crackdowns on illegal street vendors are Nam-gu’s responsibility," while Nam-gu says, "Management of Gwangju Park is the city’s responsibility."

A Nam-gu official explained, "We are aware that illegal street vending is rampant, but it is difficult to crack down because it concerns the livelihoods of ordinary people."

Lee Jae-cheon, president of the Gwangju Park Pojangmacha Merchants Association, said, "The merchants’ association is aware of the problems and is doing its best to minimize issues such as hygiene and trash by using membership fees for food waste disposal," adding, "We hope Gwangju City reconsiders legalizing this area so that businesses can operate within the system."

Meanwhile, Gwangju City reviewed legalizing the Gwangju Park pojangmacha street in 2020 but judged it impossible due to fairness with surrounding merchants and failure to meet facility standards under the Food Sanitation Act.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.