Hwaseong City Holds Proclamation Ceremony for Food Culture Specialty Street

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Lee Su-won] Hwaseong City held a 'Food Culture Specialty Street Proclamation Ceremony' on the 16th to commemorate the designation of the food culture specialty street at Banan Manse Market in Hyungnam-eup.

The food culture specialty street development project is one of the city's food culture policy initiatives that has been pursued through public-private collaboration since 2022 with the goal of revitalizing alley commerce. The project aims to designate specialized food street brands unique to Hwaseong City that blend culture, history, and cuisine, and is being implemented to establish superior food infrastructure.

The proclamation ceremony was attended by approximately 500 people, including Mayor Jung Myung-geun of Hwaseong City, Kim Gyeong-hee, Chair of Hwaseong City Council, Rep. Song Ok-joo, city and provincial council members, Ju Han-seo, Director of the Business Division at the Gyeonggi Provincial Urban Commerce Promotion Agency, Yu Ji-seon, Director of the Hwaseong Culture Center, Nam Seong-gyu, Head of the Hwaseong Branch of the Korea Restaurant Association's Gyeonggi Southern District, and Song Jin-ho, Chairman of the Banan Manse Market Merchants Association, as well as other dignitaries and citizens. The event featured the designation and proclamation ceremony of the food culture specialty street, celebratory performances including fusion janggo performance, tteok-machi (traditional rice cake pounding), and a karaoke concert.

Banan Manse Market was selected as a food culture specialty street after passing the first round of document screening and on-site investigation and a second review by the Hwaseong City Food Promotion Fund Review Committee. The market is home to approximately 40 establishments offering cuisine from various countries including Vietnam, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

Mayor Jung Myung-geun of Hwaseong City stated, "I hope this designation as a food culture specialty street will be a new leap for merchants struggling with economic downturn," and added, "Starting with this proclamation ceremony, Hwaseong City will work together to create a distinctive food culture specialty street where food, culture, and history blend harmoniously and to revitalize the local business district."