Gyeongbuk's traditional liquor and Jongga (traditional clan head family) food took center stage on a cultural exchange stage with Nara Prefecture, Japan. Held along the Andong Wolyeong Cherry Blossom Road, the "2026 Gyeongbuk Traditional Liquor Cultural Grand Festival & Jongga Food Cultural Exhibition" brought together the traditional liquor and food cultures of both regions, while also officially unveiling the festival's official mascot character, "Sulkaebi."

The festival took place for three days from October 16 to 18. The opening ceremony was attended by around 300 people, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Vice Governor Hwang Myung-seok, Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang, Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Assembly Culture and Environment Committee Chairman Kim Dae-jin, traditional liquor master Kim Yeon-bak, Jongbu (head family daughters-in-law) Noh Song-jung and Choi Jeong-sook, and tourists.

As a follow-up exchange project to the South Korea-Japan summit held in Andong last May, officials from Nara Prefecture participated to host a special joint exhibition of traditional liquor and traditional food. The exhibition showcased Korean traditional liquor alongside Japanese sake and the traditional foods of both countries.

Shimoura Takahiro, Counselor from Nara Prefecture, said, "I am delighted to introduce Korean traditional liquor and Japanese sake together and share the food cultures of both countries," adding, "I hope such exchanges will continue steadily going forward."

The festival venue featured local traditional breweries, wineries, distilleries, and food vendors—including Andong Soju—offering a variety of traditional liquors and local delicacies. Programs such as Jongga food cooking classes with Jongbus, as well as Jongga food tasting and hands-on experience sessions, were also operated.

Family-friendly activities continued throughout the event, including nuruk-stepping (fermentation starter), wine bottle decorating, traditional liquor cocktail making, and rice-pounding (tteokme-chigi). Special exhibitions highlighting National Intangible Cultural Heritage traditional liquors and Gyeongbuk's representative master-crafted traditional liquors were also prepared.

Cultural events such as traditional liquor master talk shows, traditional liquor auction shows, Jongbu talk shows carrying on the flavors of head families, and busking performances were held. These introduced visitors to the historical and cultural value of traditional liquor and Jongga food.

"Sulkaebi" is an official mascot character that modernly reinterprets goblin stories from Gyeongbuk regional folklore. Designed as a friendly goblin who loves liquor and people, it will be utilized as the symbolic character for the Traditional Liquor Cultural Grand Festival moving forward.

Hwang Myung-seok, Vice Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, stated, "Traditional liquor is a precious cultural asset containing the history and culture of Gyeongbuk, and Jongga food is a cultural heritage imbued with the lives and spirit of our ancestors," adding, "Through the globalization of Gyeongbuk traditional liquor and the popularization of Jongga food, we will build Gyeongbuk into a K-tourism hub sought after by people around the world."

Building upon this exchange, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to expand cultural and tourism cooperation utilizing the traditional liquor and food cultures of both regions, while continuously promoting international exchange and tourism vitalization centered around them.

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