Busan is good

10th Busan Original Downtown Revitalization Festival "Taxchelin" Concludes Successfully

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Busan Festival Organizing Committee announced that the culinary tourism festival "Taxchelin", held over three days from May 16 to 18 across the original downtown areas (Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, and Yeongdo-gu), concluded with great success.

Now in its second year, Taxchelin has established itself as a representative regional festival by offering immersive experiences that combine the rich culinary culture and attractive tourism resources of Busan's original downtown.

Festival Highlights

The festival officially commenced with the "Taxchelin Opening Ceremony" held at 7:30 PM on May 16 at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center.

The opening ceremony featured the “Dongbaek Star Awards,” which recognized the most popular restaurants—one from each district—selected from those listed in the “Taxchelin Guidebook.” It also introduced a special menu item, the “Taxchelin Pollack Roe Mala Hamburg Steak,” created in collaboration with Chef Kyu-jin Lee of Michelin Guide restaurant “Ramzi,” drawing considerable attention and praise.

Attendees enjoyed a full-course meal featuring signature dishes from the Dongbaek Star restaurants and the Taxchelin special menu, providing a unique opportunity to experience the essence of Busan’s culinary charm in one setting.

Dongbaek Star Award-winning restaurants:

• ●Wonjo Ilmi Driver’s Restaurant (Jung-gu)

• ●Matna Driver’s Restaurant (Seo-gu)

• ●Sinbalwon (Dong-gu)

• ●Jeju Bokguk (Yeongdo-gu)

Festival Programs

Throughout the festival, various engaging programs were held across the original downtown area, offering a multi-sensory experience for participants:

• ●"Taste Merchants’ Cooperative": a mission-style walking gourmet tour

• ●"Market-Direct Cooking Class": a hands-on cooking experience using local specialties

• ●"Taxchelin Guide Taxi": a guided culinary tour by taxi to popular restaurants

• ●"Night View Street Food Stalls": culinary experiences set against the backdrop of the night sea

• ●Permanent hands-on events at key sites

These vibrant activities transformed the original downtown area into a dynamic space brimming with energy.

Lasting Impressions

Approximately 14,000 citizens and tourists participated in the festival, fully enjoying the rich culinary travel experience that Busan's original downtown has to offer.

Taxchelin not only introduced participants to a new form of urban travel, enhancing interest in local restaurants, but also gave them the opportunity to discover hidden alleyways and stories of the original downtown.

Of particular note is the release of the "2025 Taxchelin Guidebook" this year, which includes not only restaurant listings but also detailed insights into hidden attractions and local stories throughout the downtown area. It is expected to serve as a valuable resource for visitors to Busan even after the festival ends.

The guidebook is available for download at the Taxchelin website: festivalbusan.com/taxchelin

Remarks

Kim Hyun-jae, Director-General of Tourism and MICE at Busan Metropolitan City, stated:

“Taxchelin has invigorated the regional economy and urban tourism by offering experiential content that combines culinary value with the unique identity and stories of Busan’s original downtown.
We will continue to discover and foster festivals that capture Busan’s distinctive character.”