Meeting the Spirit of Goseong Through Pollack... 25th Goseong Pollack Festival Opens on the 17th

Goseong County, Connecting Memories and Flavors with Pollack at the Goseong Pollack Festival
Held October 17-19... "Spirit of Pollack" Colors the Autumn Sea
A Festival Created with Residents... Harmony of Tradition and Innovation
Performances to Light Up Autumn Nights and Synergy for Local Co-Prosperity

The 25th Goseong Pollack Festival, a signature autumn event in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, will kick off in grand style for three days from October 17 to 19 at the Gojin 11-ri Beach area.

The 24th Goseong Pollack Festival. Provided by Goseong County, Gangwon Province

Held under the theme “A festival that brings good fortune with the spirit of pollack,” this year’s event is jointly hosted and organized by the Goseong Cultural Foundation and the Goseong Pollack Festival Committee. It is designed as a participatory festival that weaves together the region’s history, culture, and the lives of residents through pollack.

This year’s festival identified its core directions-strengthening tradition and identity, expanding popularity and fun, and promoting local co-prosperity-through a preliminary survey of 445 Goseong residents. In particular, the festival grounds will make use of the autumn seaside atmosphere, and new programs will inject fresh energy by offering activities that can be enjoyed by all generations.

The festival features a total of seven categories and over 30 diverse programs, all set to delight visitors’ senses.

Debuting this year, the “Pollack Lounge” will showcase innovative pollack-based recipes such as pollack sweet-and-sour, pollack bread, and pollack cutlets, created by seven renowned chefs and culinary masters. In addition, the “Family Cooking Experience with Culinary Masters” will allow families to enjoy the flavors and culture of pollack together.

The 24th Goseong Pollack Festival. Provided by Goseong County, Gangwon Province

The “Pollack Memories Storytelling Contest,” organized by the Goseong residents’ record-keeping group “Saeroksaerok,” will also be held for the first time this year. Local residents will take the stage to share family memories with pollack, as well as stories of drying racks and fishing village life, reviving the festival’s sense of community.

Other hands-on programs include the “Pollack Theme Hall,” “Old Pollack Photo Exhibition,” “Pollack Belly-Cutting Experience,” and “Pollack Wish Keyring Making,” all offering visitors a comprehensive look at the history and culture of pollack.

During the festival, local cultural and arts groups will be joined by popular artists such as Noh Jihoon, Kang Hye-yeon, Choi Honglim, Han Sooyoung, Shin Hyun, Cheetah, Cardi, and Mangrove Crew. These performers will heat up the autumn nights with a wide array of performances spanning rock, DJ, trot, hip-hop, and more.

Furthermore, the festival site and Gojin-eup are connected by both land and sea routes, strengthening ties with local businesses. During the festival, a “participatory certification system” will be in operation, allowing those who spend a certain amount at local shops to join activities such as fishing boat bus rides and barehanded catching experiences. In addition, KakaoTalk emoticons featuring pollack will be distributed, with an event where they can be exchanged for festival goods on site.

The 24th Goseong Pollack Festival. Provided by Goseong County, Gangwon Province

Ham Myungjun, Mayor of Goseong County, stated, “Pollack is a cultural asset symbolizing the life and identity of Goseong. This year’s festival will be a happy autumn event where tradition and modernity meet through pollack, and where residents and tourists come together in harmony.”

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