Danyang Gugyeong Traditional Market’s Unique Festival: Garlic Dining That Lures in Even Dracula

Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do is one of Korea’s most prominent garlic-producing regions, renowned for a variety of signature garlic dishes. Danyang Gugyeong Traditional Market, a bastion of this garlic identity, recently welcomed an unusual guest, Dracula no less, whose fear of garlic is legendary. His surprise appearance was featured in a special program titled “Dracula’s Garlic Dining,” a part of the K-Tourism Market Top 10 Festival. The K-Tourism Market Top 10 campaign introduces the 10 most popular traditional markets nationwide, rich in character, flavor, and stories. It invites visitors to enjoy the sights and tastes of the market as well as unique local experiences all at once. 
On August 9, what immense fun took place at the festival when flavors, music, and performances came together in harmony.

Scene at Danyang Gugyeong Traditional Market

Entrance of Danyang Gugyeong Traditional Market

Dracula’s Garlic Dining aims to promote Danyang garlic, which is too tasteful for even Dracula to resist, through various programs. Its witty title and concept captivated tourists’ curiosity, drawing them into every corner of the market where they naturally tried out various garlic-themed offerings.

A DJ in Dracula costume 

Cocktails made from Danyang’s traditional liquor 

The Vampire’s Lounge located at the market entrance is the first place tourists encounter. Here, a DJ in Dracula costume welcomes visitors with cocktails made from traditional wines and liquors. A selection of Danyang traditional wines is showcased, including Sobaeksan fresh makgeolli, aronia makgeolli, black garlic makgeolli, and Gugyeongju. 
Inside the market, visitors who posted photos of the festival on social media could choose one cocktail from eight varieties to sample for free. The free tasting cocktails were crafted by bartenders using traditional Danyang wines and liquors. The Black Garlic Punch blends black garlic makgeolli with plum juice and fruit; the Aronia Bloody is a pink cocktail made from aronia makgeolli, sparkling water, syrup, and lemon juice; and the Gugyeongju Highball combines Gugyeongju, Pepsi Zero Lime, lemon juice, and ice. Each cocktail is visually alluring and unique, striking a chord with revelers of drinking age.

Bracelet-making experience 

Making your own custom T-shirts 

A host of events were offered for traditional liquor buyers. Those who purchased at least one bottle of traditional wine or liquor could receive a temporary tattoo sticker or participate in the bracelet-making experience. Those who spent over KRW 30,000 could also create their own custom T-shirts. In addition, visitors who posted photos taken at the festival on social media instead of purchasing any liquor were offered a complimentary traditional liquor cocktail.

Visitors enjoying popular market food at a standing table

Pepsi Combo new menu items: Cheese Tteokgalbi, Spicy Hammer Pork Cutlet, and Dakgangjeong

The festival’s main stage, Garlic Alley, looked both familiar and new from the normal days. Standing tables were set up where visitors could casually enjoy food purchased at the market. Some merchants also introduced new food options in collaboration with Pepsi, including Spicy Hammer Pork Cutlet, Cheese Tteokgalbi (grilled galbi patties), and Dakgangjeong (sweet and crispy Korean fried chicken), served alongside Pepsi Zero Sugar Mojito Flavor. Each food option was limited in quantity to 100 sets, for a total of 300 sets only on the day of the festival.

Visitors enjoying Dracula’s Garlic Dining

Garlic Sundaeguk reinvented in a fine dining style 

The main dishes, Garlic Tteokgalbi and Dakgangjeong

The culture square inside the market was transformed into a dining space, serving the Dracula’s Garlic Dining Course exclusively. Among those who applied on social media, 60 teams were selected by lottery (30 teams per session, with up to four people per team) to enjoy this special menu. Guests were welcomed with cocktails made from traditional Danyang liquors, followed by appetizers of black garlic salt bread and garlic Sundaeguk (Sundae soup). The main course featured the market’s most popular foods of garlic Tteokgalbi and garlic Dakgangjeong. For dessert, ice cream topped with black garlic jelly was served. The atmosphere emanated a mellow vibe with the melody of a live jazz band.

Roulette wheel spinning at the event zone 

The photo zone of the Dracula’s Garlic Dining

Any visitors who missed out on participating in the Dracula’s Garlic Dining Course continued exploring the market alleys. Throughout the market, many food stalls offered the same dishes featured in the course. Steaming bowls of garlic Sundaeguk were sold at Gugyeong Sundaegukbap and Daldongnae Sundaegukbap, while Dakgangjeong was the specialty at Neomaneul Chicken and Danyang Heungmaneul Dakgangjeong. The roulette event drew a large crowd, where customers could submit receipts of purchases over KRW 10,000 for a chance to win prizes. In addition, a unique photo zone modeled after Dracula’s coffin was set up in the market alley, attracting the attention of passersby.

Danyang Gugyeong Night Market

During the opening of Danyang Gugyeong Traditional Market Night Stroll in July, the food options have remained even more varied. Although the night market ended on August 16, the market is still filled with specialty foods. If you’re planning a visit to Danyang, be sure to stop by and enjoy a gourmet journey with the rich aroma of garlic.

• Danyang Gugyeong Traditional Market (Danyangjang)
• - Location: 28 Dojeon 5-gil, Danyang-eup, Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
• - Tip: If the on-premise parking lot is full, nearby public parking lots are accessible, including Sangsang Street Public Parking Lot and the public parking lots near the riverside street or lowland by the Danyanggang River.

Text and photos by travel writer Kim Jeong-heum