Gangjin-gun, Maryang Noltosusan Market Ends This Year's Events

1.05 Million Visitors Since 2015, Total Sales Reach Approximately 10 Billion KRW

Maryang's Specialty, Established as Gangjin's Representative Tourist Attraction

Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 2nd that the Maryang Nolto Seafood Market, held every Saturday since April 22 at Maryang Port, concluded its events for this year on the 28th of last month.

The Maryang Nolto Seafood Market, held a total of 27 times, recorded a cumulative visitor count of 69,802 and achieved sales of 348 million KRW.

Since its opening in 2015, the Maryang Nolto Seafood Market has attracted over 1.05 million visitors through 2023, generating nearly 10 billion KRW in total sales, playing a significant role as a catalyst for revitalizing the local economy.

On the 28th of last month, the final Maryang Nolto Seafood Market of the year was held. [Photo by Gangjin-gun]

This year, there were 28 booths across 5 categories, including 4 restaurants such as sashimi houses, 7 seafood stalls, 2 dried seafood shops, 5 street food stands, and 10 grandmother’s market stalls.

This year, Maryang Nolto newly installed an LED sea fountain and a media facade to expand nighttime attractions, and also set up an air bounce for visitors accompanied by children.

Above all, the Saturday music concerts, both performances to watch and those in which visitors could participate, were evaluated as the greatest driving force behind the event.

The county maintained the original spirit of the Maryang Nolto Seafood Market this year by upholding the motto of ‘Best Freshness, Best Quality, Best Affordability,’ offering fresh and inexpensive seafood as the foundation, while attracting tourists with various performances and gift certificate raffle events.

Additionally, considering individual preferences including children who cannot eat raw fish, the market developed a variety of menus by adding street foods such as fried items to complete the lineup.

Furthermore, the county held a township singing contest in a tournament style to stimulate local interest and increase participation, while adding concerts by popular singers, fan meetings, and gentle busking performances.

Notably, this year a robot barista served coffee at the Gangjin Maryang Port Observatory Cafe, capturing attention with this unique sight.

The observatory features a circular structure where every seat offers a ‘view hotspot,’ providing visitors with a serene view of Maryang Port’s front sea and a close-up of Kkamak Island, a natural monument, offering a distinctive enjoyment.

Natural Monument Kkamak Island in Maryang, Gangjin [Photo by Gangjin County]

The county plans to welcome tourists next year with a different look by relocating the stage and refreshing the seafood sales shops with a stylish remodel.

Maryang Nolto was first created as a local festival during the 6th local government term in 2015, under the current county governor Kang Jin-won, to revitalize the local economy through Maryang’s outstanding natural environment and fresh seafood. In its inaugural year, 2015, it attracted 190,000 visitors, increasing to 240,000 in 2016 and 270,000 in 2017. To date, about 1.05 million tourists have visited, and total sales have reached nearly 10 billion KRW, playing a vital role in boosting the local economy.

Governor Kang Jin-won stated, “I will devote more effort to next year’s opening so that visitors to the Maryang Nolto Seafood Market can take a break from their tiring daily lives to heal and recharge,” adding, “We will work even harder to achieve economic effects equivalent to population growth through this successful local festival.”

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