The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province announced that it successfully held the "2026 Jeonbuk-style Public Diplomacy Festival" in Barcelona, Spain—a world-renowned city of gastronomy and tourism—from October 15 to 19.

This event was organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Barcelona and the Barcelona Municipal Markets Institute (IMMB). It served as an opportunity to promote Jeonbuk's exceptional culinary resources, traditional culture, and food industry to local citizens.

On the opening day, October 15, a traditional music workshop and performance were held at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), introducing local university students to the charm of pansori and traditional Korean music. Students showed keen interest as they experienced the unique melodies and rhythms of Korean traditional music firsthand.

From October 16 to 18, Jeonbuk participated in "Mercat de Mercats," a prominent gastronomy festival held at Glòries Square in Barcelona, showcasing the tastes and style of the region. Launched in 2010, the festival brings together local market vendors, food producers, and chefs. The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province made history this year by becoming the first overseas local government to participate, adding profound significance to the event.

Together with affiliated organizations such as the Korean Food Promotion Institute and the Jeonbuk International Cooperation Agency, the provincial government operated the Jeonbuk Promotion Pavilion and Cultural Experience Pavilion to introduce Jeonbuk’s tourism resources and high-quality food products. Cultural programs—including trying on hanbok, hanji (traditional Korean paper) crafts, and traditional folk games—drew a continuous stream of local citizens, heightening their interest in Korean culture.

In particular, the Jeonju bibimbap cooking show on October 16 and the songpyeon (half-moon-shaped rice cake) making experience on October 18 drew enthusiastic responses by offering participants the chance to make and taste Jeonbuk's traditional foods directly. In addition, various foods such as tteokbokki, gimbugak (crispy seaweed), and traditional fermented sauces (jang) were introduced, alongside traditional liquor exhibition and tasting programs representing Jeonbuk’s 14 cities and counties, further highlighting the appeal of regional foods.

On October 17, the "K-Pungryu Concert" unfolded at the Encants Market and the main festival stage. Performances reinterpreting pansori and traditional music in a modern style drew enthusiastic applause and reactions from local audiences, spreading the sounds and excitement of Jeonbuk throughout Barcelona.

On the final day, October 19, a Jeonju bibimbap cooking class and Jeonbuk traditional jang tasting session were held for local students at CETT School of Hotel Management, Tourism and Gastronomy, University of Barcelona. Students tasted various traditional sauces from Jeonbuk, learned about their characteristics, and made bibimbap themselves, experiencing the captivating charm of Jeonbuk's culinary culture.

This event successfully introduced Jeonbuk's food and traditional culture in a world-class culinary city, while simultaneously promoting the region's outstanding foods to local consumers and future culinary industry professionals, paving the way for broader entry into the European market.

Kim Jin-hae, International Relations Ambassador for the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "In the global culinary city of Barcelona, we were able to showcase Jeonbuk's food and traditional culture and promote the potential of our regional food industry. We will continue to leverage Jeonbuk's cultural and food resources to expand overseas exchanges and pursue practical public diplomacy linked to the global expansion of our regional industries."

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