The Seoul BBQ Festival returns to Nanji Camping Ground this Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, and the self-grill tables are already gone. According to the Korea Times, the first online booking round sold out in five minutes and the second in two. Before you cancel your weekend, though, there is still plenty to eat and do.
What the festival is
The city of Seoul turns a riverside campsite on the Han River in Mapo into an outdoor grill party. Korean reports describe it as a food-tourism festival that mixes barbecue with camping and picnics. Think smoke, live music, chef demonstrations and a market, all in one place. This guide is based on the city’s announcement and news reports, so please double-check details before you go.
The self BBQ zone
This is the headline attraction. You do not bring any gear. The organizers provide the grill, charcoal, tools, sauces, ssamjang and cola, and you buy Korean beef or pork and ssam vegetables on site at special prices. There are three sessions a day, at 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00, each lasting two and a half hours. Booking was through Naver on September 16 and October 6.
If you missed the booking
First, try the BBQ Village. The city’s announcement says it needs no reservation, and it gathers well-known Seoul meat restaurants serving their dishes at special prices. The Korea Times counts seven culinary brands there.
Second, a limited number of tables will open for walk-in registration during the festival. There is no guarantee, so I would arrive early.
Third, you can simply enjoy the rest. Chefs give live demonstrations, including a pork butchery class with tasting samples, and musicians perform on stage. A farmers’ market with producers from ten provinces runs from noon to 8 p.m. each day, and there is a relaxation zone with desserts and drinks.
A tip for meat lovers
If you do get to grill, do it the Korean way: wrap a piece of meat in lettuce or perilla with a dab of ssamjang and eat it in one bite. Good ssam is half the fun.
Mangwon Market is nearby, and the festival offers a discount on meat if you shop there first. The city says to show your receipt, while the Korea Times reports a 5 percent discount with at least 30,000 won spent. The two sources describe the rule differently, so ask at the festival.
Is it worth going?
A Korean news report says last year’s festival drew about 28,000 visitors, and 98.1 percent of foreign visitors said they would come again. That figure comes from a single report, so treat it as a rough guide. If I were planning the day, I would browse the farmers’ market around noon, watch a chef demonstration in the afternoon, and save the BBQ Village for dinner, when the riverside lights come on.
Getting there
The organizers recommend public transport because of expected traffic. Shuttle buses run from Digital Media City Station and Mangwon Hangang Park Parking Lot 1. The Korea Times lists the fare as 1,200 won per ride, with preschool children free.
[Google Map: Nanji Camping Ground, Mapo-gu, Seoul]
Before You Go
Some details are best confirmed with the organizers, so here is where to look. Admission, menu prices and English guidance are not listed in the announcements I read. The official website is seoulbbqfesta.com, and the city’s own announcement is on the Seoul Media Hub. You can also call the festival operations office listed by the city at 070-8789-5600.
Late October evenings by the river are cool and fresh, so a warm layer will keep you comfortable while you eat. Keep this festival on your radar for next autumn too.
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