Gwangju Mayor Shin Gye-yong expressed his hope on August 25 that the recent competition would help promote the city's hidden culinary gems to the public.
During the third Gwangju Restaurant Selection Competition and awards ceremony, Mayor Shin announced the final selection of five representative restaurants that showcase Gwangju's unique flavors and characteristics.
Shin is working with citizens to enhance the competitiveness of local dining establishments and revitalize the neighborhood economy.
This year's competition, now in its third iteration, aims not only to identify delicious restaurants but also to discover hidden culinary spots to introduce to residents and visitors, thereby boosting the competitiveness of the local dining industry.
Notably, this year's event significantly expanded citizen participation.
In addition to expert evaluations, online citizen voting and on-site assessments allowed residents to directly choose Gwangju's representative eateries.
Participating restaurants underwent a selection process that included document reviews, hygiene evaluations, and mystery shopper assessments conducted by experts before advancing to the final competition.
During the competition, each restaurant showcased its signature dishes, with the final winners determined by a combination of expert evaluations (60%), on-site citizen assessments (20%), and online citizen voting (20%).
The results were as follows: the grand prize went to Manchun (Special Sirloin Cutlet Set), the excellence award to Gwangju Aebori-bap (Tulleki Handmade Noodle Soup), and the encouragement award to Sangwol (Hanwoo & Pork Hamburger Set).
Additionally, the popular awards were given to Geunirang (Three-Flavor Jokbal) and Poetic (Crete), both of which received significant interest and support from citizens.
The winning establishments will receive cash prizes along with certification plaques and banners from Gwangju City.
Mayor Shin plans to provide opportunities for these restaurants to participate in major local events, such as the Gwangju Performing Arts Festival, and to support their branding through online and offline promotions.
This initiative focuses on creating a virtuous cycle for the local economy, linking restaurant selection, promotion, visitor influx, and revitalization of neighborhood commerce.
Shin aims to expand the city’s brand as a desirable destination for visitors by connecting individual restaurants with local tourism, festivals, and cultural content, rather than limiting them to just being recognized as popular eateries.
Citizens have generally responded positively to the selection results.
Many expressed appreciation for the inclusion of citizen voting and on-site evaluations, noting that it was beneficial for residents to have a say in choosing the best restaurants.
One resident remarked, “Having lived in Gwangju for a long time, it was hard to know which places were the representative restaurants at a glance. I’m glad to discover new dining options through this opportunity and hope to confidently recommend them to family and friends visiting Gwangju.”
Another resident added, “Rather than repeatedly introducing only famous places, it would be great to uncover long-loved local spots and hidden gems. I hope the selected restaurants continue to be cherished by citizens.”
Mayor Shin concluded, “I will actively support the selected restaurants to grow into representative local brands and bring new vitality to the local economy.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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