Busan is good

Where Is My Favorite Gukbap Spot?… 20 Citizen-Recommended Restaurants Announced for the “2026 Busan Dwaeji Gukbap Competition”

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, and the Busan Tourism Organization, led by President Lee Jung-sil, announced that they are unveiling today, September 14, the 20 citizen-recommended gukbap restaurants selected for the “2026 Busan Dwaeji Gukbap Competition,” a participatory culinary tourism program featuring dwaeji gukbap, one of Busan’s signature culinary resources.

The “2026 Busan Dwaeji Gukbap Competition” was created to cast new light on dwaeji gukbap, a local dish that has long been part of everyday life for Busan residents, and to develop it into a signature culinary tourism attraction representing Busan.

The event consists of four stages, beginning with “Gukbap Recommendations,” in which citizens directly recommend their favorite gukbap restaurants, followed by “Gukbap Talks,” “Gukbap Week,” and the “Gukbap Showcase.”

A total of about 10,800 people participated online and offline in the “My Favorite Gukbap Restaurant Recommendation” campaign held from August 16 to September 2, with 254 gukbap restaurants across Busan receiving mentions.

Citizens recommended gukbap restaurants throughout Busan, each with its own appeal, including not only famous restaurants but also neighborhood spots popular by word of mouth among locals, long-established eateries that have remained in the same location for many years, and familiar neighborhood favorites filled with personal memories.

Public interest in dwaeji gukbap was equally strong online. A “Gukbap Recommendation” Reels video asking viewers to name their favorite dwaeji gukbap restaurant quickly went viral, recording 2.05 million views and about 34,000 shares within two days of its release. The “Gukbap Debate” video featuring chefs Kang Leo and Kim Do-yoon also surpassed 170,000 views.

Based on the citizen recommendations, the following 20 restaurants were selected:

1953 Hyeongje Dwaeji Gukbap Main Branch, Nam-gu; 70nyeon Jeontong Halmae Gukbap, Dong-gu; Du Beonjjae Neulhaerang, Busanjin-gu; Mokchon Dwaeji Gukbap Yeonsan City Hall Branch, Yeonje-gu; Seo Jin-seop Dwaeji Gukbap, Jung-gu; Somunnan Dwaeji Gukbap Bupyeong Branch, Jung-gu; Subyeon Choego Dwaeji Gukbap Millak Main Branch, Suyeong-gu; Suyeong Dwaeji Gukbap, Suyeong-gu; Sikbok Dwaeji Gukbap, Suyeong-gu; Sinchang Gukbap Main Branch, Seo-gu; Ssangdungi Dwaeji Gukbap Main Branch, Nam-gu; Yeongjin Dwaeji Gukbap Main Branch, Saha-gu; Onammae Dwaeji Gukbap Jeonggwan Branch, Gijang-gun; Uri Dwaeji Gukbap, Dong-gu; Ibagu Gukbap, Sasang-gu; Jamae Gukbap, Suyeong-gu; Cheonghwabaek Dwaeji Gukbap Gwangalli Main Branch, Suyeong-gu; Haeundae Halmaejip, Haeundae-gu; Hapcheon Gukbapjip Yongho Branch, Nam-gu; and Hwanamjeong Dwaeji Gukbap Choeup Main Branch, Busanjin-gu.

The “Gukbap Talks,” to be held on September 19, will bring together Busan Metropolitan City promotional ambassador Han Sang-jin, culinary expert Kang Leo, and citizen gukbap enthusiasts, or “Gukbap Lovers,” to share stories about the history and culture of Busan dwaeji gukbap as well as their individual philosophies on gukbap.

Rather than simply determining which gukbap restaurant tastes best, the event will provide a forum for participants to share a wide range of stories, including why they love their own favorite gukbap restaurants. A video of the “Gukbap Talks” is scheduled to be released on the Visit Busan YouTube channel on September 27.

This will be followed by “Gukbap Week,” running from September 28 to October 14 and centered on the 20 citizen-recommended gukbap restaurants.

Citizens and visitors alike will be able to vote via KakaoMap for their favorite among the 20 citizen-recommended restaurants. They may also visit the participating restaurants in person, sample a variety of dwaeji gukbap, and cast their votes.

Voting during “Gukbap Week” will determine the 20, 10, and 3 citizen-recommended restaurants, which will later be featured at the “Gukbap Showcase.”

More information on the 20 citizen-recommended gukbap restaurants, how to participate in “Gukbap Week,” and other event details is available on the Visit Busan website at https://www.visitbusan.net and on Instagram at @visitbusan.kr.

Na Yoon-bin, Director General of the Tourism and MICE Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “This event is meaningful because it gives visitors the opportunity to travel through Busan’s alleys and neighborhoods in search of a bowl of dwaeji gukbap and directly experience the everyday life and culture of Busan residents.”

Na added, “We will continue to discover and develop Busan-style culinary tourism content that connects the city’s unique food and stories with actual visits and longer stays by tourists, helping bring greater vitality to commercial districts throughout the city.”