The 14th Mapo Salted Shrimp Festival will be held for three days from Nov. 5, where people can buy the briny condiment from famous producers at discounted prices, according to Mapo-gu Office, Monday.
The annual festival was canceled last year due to the spread of COVID-19, but this year’s event will include both offline and online events in line with the government’s “Living with COVID-19” plan that started Nov. 1.
Mapo used to be a center of trade across the country during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), and merchants selling salted seafood, including shrimp, used to gather at Maponaru (Mapo Port).
The district office will hold an event reenacting salted shrimp merchants entering the port and people buying the goods, on the main stage of the World Cup Park, Nov. 5.
Twenty LED lamps modeled after a traditional sailboat will be floating on Nanji Pond.
A music concert will also be held at 3 p.m. every day for three days.
Singers Nam Jin and Maria will perform on the first day of the festival. On the second day, singer Kim Jung-min and dance group Coyote will take the stage. And on the last day of the festival, a classical concert will be presented by Kim Jae-kyung Opera Group.
Those who have been fully vaccinated are eligible to reserve spots at the concert, which will also be broadcast live on the district office’s YouTube channel.
An online market will be available through Nov. 7 where people can purchase salted shrimp from across the country at prices more than 15 percent cheaper than market rates ahead of the winter kimchi-making season.
Twelve producers that have been selected by the district office will participate in the online market and more information will be available via the district office’s website and newsletters.
Offline purchases of the goods will be possible at three traditional markets in the district ― Ahyeon, Mapo and Gongdeok ― during the festival period.
