Jecheon City will hold the "2025 Jecheon Red Odeng Festival" from February 28th to March 3rd at the Jecheon Station Plaza. The festival, organized by the Jecheon City Tourism Council, aims to revitalize the local economy and promote Jecheon's representative food, red odeng (spicy fish cake). The festival will offer unique culinary experiences and various attractions to local residents and tourists during the winter season.
The festival will create a retro-style street food alley where visitors can enjoy red odeng and other diverse dishes, providing an opportunity to experience Jecheon's unique flavors and culture. The opening ceremony will be held at 3 PM on February 28th at Jecheon Station Plaza, featuring a "Gourmet City Declaration Ceremony" and performances by trot singers Kim Da-na and Lee Chan-sung.
The highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the "Red Odeng" itself. Over 25 local small businesses will participate, showcasing not only the classic red odeng but also fusion red odeng, chicken nuggets, various snacks, noodles, spicy chicken feet, and more, further highlighting the charm of Jecheon in winter.
One of the most anticipated programs is the "Food Fight Challenge," a competition where participants race to see how quickly they can eat red odeng. This event offers a chance for spicy food enthusiasts to test their limits, with the winner receiving a suite room accommodation at Cheongpung Resort. There will also be a red odeng eating event held on-site, with a stay at Blooming Days Pension as the prize.
Various hands-on programs are also prepared for families. The festival will feature magic shows, bubble shows, roasted rice cake making, dalgona candy making, and other activities that children and parents can enjoy together. Photo zones will also be set up to help families create special memories.
This festival is particularly meaningful as it is organized by local residents and merchants. Red odeng vendors and restaurants in Jecheon will participate directly to promote local food and convey the warm atmosphere of Jecheon to tourists.
Kim Chang-gyu, the mayor of Jecheon City, said, "The Jecheon Red Odeng Festival is a special festival where you can experience the taste and culture of Jecheon, and it will be a festival that both local residents and tourists can enjoy together." A city official also stated, "As it is a festival that decorates the end of winter, we hope that many people will visit and create warm and precious memories."
Meanwhile, Jecheon City held a red odeng free tasting event near Hongdae Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul on February 7th, which was met with great enthusiasm. Therefore, attention is focused on whether the "2025 Jecheon Red Odeng Festival" can establish itself as a leading winter festival in Korea, going beyond a local festival.
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