A tourism festival combining the scenic Han River with Korea's iconic dish, chicken, will take place on the Banpo Bridge. Major franchises and local chicken restaurants will gather, allowing 2,000 citizens and tourists to enjoy chicken at a 400-meter-long table set up on the bridge. This event is part of Seoul's initiative to expand tourism around the Han River's bridges and waterfront spaces.
On October 25, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., the city will host 'Chicken Day' as the final program of the '2026 Car-Free Banpo Bridge Walkable Festival.' Starting October 26, vehicle access will be completely restricted to prepare for the bridge's transformation into a pedestrian-only space. This festival serves as a finale for citizens and tourists to enjoy the bridge before the changes take effect.
The event focuses on merging Han River tourism with food culture. It will feature a communal dining experience where locals can enjoy familiar chicken dishes on the bridge, along with tasting programs for foreign tourists. This approach aims to enhance the tourism experience by not only appreciating the river's views but also savoring local cuisine and culture.
A highlight of the event will be a 'Chicken Table' featuring a 400-meter-long yellow table on the Banpo Bridge, accommodating 1,000 people at a time. The table will operate in two sessions at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., each lasting 90 minutes. Seoul City will accept online reservations for a total of 2,000 participants, with 1,000 spots available for each session.
Participants will select menu items from the participating vendors during the reservation process and will receive their orders on-site after payment. Upon entry, they will be given wristbands representing the colors of fried and seasoned chicken for each session.
A total of 10 vendors will participate, including franchises like BBQ, Pura Chicken, Mom's Touch, Mexicana, and Jadam Chicken, alongside local favorites such as Gamachi Tongdak, Giyeong's Charcoal Chicken, Manseok Dakgangjeong, Oneul Tongdak, and Banpo Chicken. This mix aims to showcase diverse regional food cultures through chicken.
Additionally, a program will promote local food from Seoul's alley markets to visitors at the Han River. From 2 p.m. for 90 minutes, 'Banpo Chicken Sommelier' will feature a tasting panel of 100 pre-selected locals and foreigners who will sample and evaluate chicken from 25 districts in Seoul. This initiative provides participants with a comparative experience of regional chicken specialties while offering small businesses a chance to promote their products.
This event is particularly significant as it precedes the establishment of the pedestrian-only Banpo Bridge. The Walkable Festival, which began in the second half of 2022, has opened previously vehicle-accessible bridges to the public, fostering awareness of pedestrianization and exploring space utilization and operational strategies. As the festival concludes its fifth year, the Banpo Bridge will enter a phase of development to become a permanent pedestrian-centric space.
Park Jin-young, head of the Future Han River Headquarters at Seoul City, stated, "I hope citizens and tourists, along with various brands and small businesses, come together to enjoy the final festival at the Banpo Bridge, which will be reborn as a pedestrian-only space."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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