23-Year History 'Soraepogu Festival' Challenges Selection as a Cultural Tourism Festival

Incheon Namdong-gu Applies for Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cultural Tourism Festival Designation in February Next Year
Strengthening Competitiveness through Seafood Consumption Promotion and Content Enhancement This Year

Incheon’s 'Soraepogu Festival,' a representative marine festival in the Seoul metropolitan area, is set to advance as a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism-designated cultural tourism festival.

Namdong-gu, Incheon, announced on the 13th that it will apply for the '2024~2025 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism-designated Cultural Tourism Festival,' scheduled for next February. Cultural tourism festivals are designated and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism after a preliminary stage, based on regional culture, to promote qualitative growth and self-sustainability of local festivals. Soraepogu Festival was previously selected as a preliminary cultural tourism festival in 2020~2021.

Once designated as a cultural tourism festival, it will receive various government supports to strengthen the festival’s capabilities, including national funding, the right to use the cultural tourism festival title, and domestic and international promotional marketing support. Namdong-gu plans to secure the festival’s self-sustainability through this designation and elevate it as a leading domestic festival enjoyed by 26 million people in the metropolitan area.

First held in 2001, the Soraepogu Festival celebrated its 23rd anniversary this year by focusing on qualitative growth and highlighting the identity of 'Sorae.' Notably, amid various adversities such as concerns over radioactive water from the Japanese nuclear plant, the festival actively worked to alleviate public anxiety and contributed to revitalizing citizens’ consumption of seafood.

2023 Soraepogu Festival
[Photo provided by Namdong-gu, Incheon]

Prior to the festival, the district conducted special inspections over three weeks on 15 samples of 12 types of seafood sold around Soraepogu and all tested negative for radioactivity. During the festival, events such as seafood cooking contests using Soraepogu specialties and fish porridge tasting sessions were held to promote the excellence of local seafood. This helped ease residents’ concerns, reaffirm the safety of domestic seafood, and contributed to boosting the previously subdued seafood consumption.

Namdong-gu also took active measures against some illicit business practices in the Soraepogu fish market and excessive pricing at local festivals. Approximately 500 measuring devices used in the fish market area were regularly inspected for damage and zero-point calibration status. The merchants’ association also made efforts toward self-regulation by conducting internal training and extending business suspension periods when illicit practices were detected.

Additionally, the district participated in the 'Good Price Campaign' promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, setting most food prices at the festival venue below 10,000 won. Food information was disclosed in advance in line with the campaign, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of foods without burden, which received great positive feedback.

This year, the newly launched Namdong Cultural Foundation took charge of planning and operating the Soraepogu Festival, showing clear qualitative growth. Various programs emphasizing the identity of 'Sorae Sea,' experiential events for family visitors, and lively stages were harmoniously combined. Furthermore, the festival focused on individuals living in Soraepogu, revived memories of the past such as the narrow-gauge train and salt fields as content, and differentiated attractions with a drone show and the Eodeung scenic street.

2023 Soraepogu Festival
[Photo provided by Namdong-gu, Incheon]

The Soraepogu Festival has even greater growth potential ahead with the designation of Sorae Wetland Ecological Park as a national urban park and the completion of the Soraepogu national fishing port project in 2026. Beyond a local traditional festival, it is expected to contribute to regional economic revitalization as a tourism festival for metropolitan citizens and align with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s policy goal of 'regional development through culture.'

Park Jong-hyo, Mayor of Namdong-gu, said, "While the Soraepogu Festival has grown quantitatively over the years, this year’s festival marks a turning point toward qualitative growth. We will do our best to ensure that through designation as a cultural tourism festival, Soraepogu Festival becomes a representative festival where metropolitan citizens can heal and relax."

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