Gumi City launches K-Chicken gastronomy tourism program

Gumi City is launching the ‘Gumi K-Chicken Belt,’ a specialized gastronomy tourism program designed to attract visitors from the Seoul metropolitan area. As the birthplace of the major brand Kyochon Chicken, the city is leveraging this historical connection to transform its image from an industrial hub into a culinary tourism destination.

Part of the ‘2026 K-Gourmet Belt Project’ led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute, the program will run 27 sessions from October 2 to November 29. The offerings include day trips and two-day, one-night stays. Participants can engage in hands-on activities such as applying signature sauces to a ‘Gumi Platter’ at the original Kyochon location, participating in stamp tours at the Kyochon 1991 Culture Street, and making handmade pickled radish or traditional liquor-based highballs using local agricultural products.

Tour itineraries include landmarks such as Geumosan Mountain, Jisan Saetgang Park, and Silla Buddhist Chojeonji. To promote the initiative, Gumi City is conducting promotional tours for media and officials and has implemented branded wraps on city buses in Seoul.