Busan is good

A Wheat-themed Culinary Journey on Children's Day: 2025 Busan Wheat Festival to Be Held

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the "2025 Busan Wheat Festival" will be held from May 5 to May 6 at Hwamyeong Ecological Park.

Now in its second year, the 2025 Busan Wheat Festival is designed to offer visitors a rich and diverse experience of foods made from wheat—one of humanity’s three major staple crops—based on the historical significance of Gupo in Buk-gu, which served as a major wheat hub after the Korean War.

The festival will be organized into two main areas: the Wheat Lounge at Hwamyeong Auto Camping Site and the Picnic Lounge at the Lotus Pond Area.

[Wheat Lounge]

At the Hwamyeong Auto Camping Site:

• ●The "Wheat Food Pop-up Shop" will feature around 20 food vendors ranging from popular local eateries to Michelin Guide-recognized restaurants, offering dishes made primarily from wheat. Visitors can enjoy a variety of foods such as pasta, pizza, ramen, milmyeon (wheat noodles), handmade burgers, and Korean street food.

• ●The "Food Lounge" will offer a comfortable gourmet space under large shade canopies, with performances by the Buk-gu Children’s Choir, acoustic concerts, and chef talks, allowing visitors to enjoy food and entertainment together.

[Picnic Lounge]

At the Lotus Pond Area:

• ●"Wheat Land," an interactive theme zone offering hands-on experiences such as wheat-themed art, sensory, science, and cooking programs. Activities include decorating straw hats, making wheat cupcake soaps, sensory play with flour, building structures with Gupo noodles, and pizza-making workshops. A "Wheat Playground" will also operate throughout the festival.

• ●"Wheat Academy," a lecture program offering deeper insights into wheat, featuring topics such as "The Story of Sourdough Starter from a Baker’s Perspective" and "The Fun Story of Wheat-based Alcohol."

• ●"Wheat Fence," a marketplace combining flea markets, exhibitions, and busking performances, where visitors can purchase a variety of wheat products, including "Gupo Union Noodles" from Gupo’s only noodle manufacturer, and learn about the history of Korean wheat.

• ●"Busan It-Day Dessert Pop-up," in collaboration with the local platform "Busan Unni," will showcase popular local dessert shops.

• ●"Cinema Food Terrace," a program organized with the Busan Tourism Organization, will feature culinary discussions inspired by famous movies, with participation from Michelin-starred chefs.

Additionally, local programs such as noodle-making experiences at the Gupo Noodle Experience Center, motorboat activities, and the Nakdong River ecological exploration cruise will also be available.

All foods sold during the festival will be provided in reusable containers, and a campaign promoting the use of reusable containers will be conducted. The city aims to establish a sustainable, eco-friendly festival environment starting with this event.

Detailed information can be found on the official Busan Wheat Festival website at festivalbusan.com/wheat.
(The list of participating restaurants and menus for the "Wheat Food Pop-up Shop" will be announced later. Entry to the Wheat Lounge may require waiting in line depending on the capacity.)

Kim Hyun-jae, Director of the Busan Tourism and MICE Bureau, stated,

"Now in its second year, the 'Busan Wheat Festival' utilizes the history, culture, and nature of western Busan to create unique content and is pioneering a new trend in Busan’s culinary tourism.
We hope that many citizens and families will enjoy the festival in celebration of Children's Day."

---

[Reference 1] Festival Overview

• ●Background:
  The festival connects the historical background of Gupo, once a major wheat hub, with the emerging trend of "culinary tourism" in Korea.

• ●Festival Details:

• ○Name: 2025 Busan Wheat Festival

• ○Period: May 5 (Mon) – May 6 (Tue), 2025 (2 days)

• ○Venue: Hwamyeong Ecological Park (Auto Camping Site and Lotus Pond Area)

• ○Budget: 340 million KRW (excluding separate private funding)

• ○Contents: Wheat Food Pop-up Shop, Food Lounge, interactive and linked events

• ○Host/Organizer: Busan Metropolitan City / Busan Festival Organization Committee

• ●Program Composition:

• ○Wheat Lounge (Hwamyeong Auto Camping Site):

• ■Wheat Food Pop-up Shop: A premium food court offering global and local wheat-based cuisines.

• ■Food Lounge: A shaded area with performances for a pleasant gourmet experience.

• ○Picnic Lounge (Lotus Pond Area):

• ■Wheat Land: Wheat-themed hands-on experiences (art, sensory, science, cooking)

• ■Wheat Academy: Lectures and activities to learn about wheat’s history, science, and culinary culture

• ■Wheat Fence: Flea markets, exhibitions, busking

• ■Linked programs: Gupo Noodle Experience, Nakdong River ecological cruise, Hwamyeong Water Leisure Experience