Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimp & Dried Laver Festival
Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimp & Dried Laver Festival
- Address Traditional market area in Gwangcheon-eup, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Contact Us Culture and Tourism Division at 041-630-9251
In the 1960s, the method of storing saeu-jeot (salted shrimp) in an excavated area in the mountains was developed. Salted shrimp was aged for 3 months within a temperature range of 14 to 15° inside the excavated area and it was called “togul-saeujeot (cave salted shrimp).”
Gwangcheon cave salted shrimp has become widely known for its unparalleled flavor and quality. Since 1996, the Gwangcheon Salted Shrimp Festival has been held in October right before the kimjang (kimchi-making) season. At the festival, various cultural events are held and the salted shrimp and Joseon laver, which Gwangcheon is known for, are sold at discounted prices. Gwangcheon laver is also famous for its high quality, as it is made using traditional techniques applied from the time when fresh laver used to be consumed.
Gwangcheon laver tastes more flavorful and savory the more you chew it, and it is also rich in nutrients. This is why it used to be served to the king during the Joseon Dynasty. Make sure to visit Hongseong when the festival is held to buy high-quality salted shrimp and salted fish at affordable prices!
