The 16th Gangneung Coffee Festival (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
GANGNEUNG, Oct. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – With the 16th Gangneung Coffee Festival once again drawing large crowds, experts are recommending quarterly festivals and competitions to reinforce Gangneung’s image as a year-round coffee destination.
According to a recent report on “Revitalization Strategies for Gangneung’s Coffee Industry” submitted to the Gangneung City Council by professor Kim Ho-seok’s team at Catholic Kwandong University, the city needs to develop distinctive strategies to maintain its identity as Korea’s premier coffee destination.
While Gangneung pioneered the concept of a coffee festival in 2009, becoming Korea’s first “coffee city,” the report notes that its position is increasingly challenged by other cities like Busan, which have begun promoting their own coffee industries and festivals.
The 16th Gangneung Coffee Festival (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The report identifies several key recommendations for improvement. First, it suggests establishing a fixed time and location for the coffee festival.
In previous years, the event has moved between various venues including the Gyeongpo area, Gangneung Arena, and the Gangneung Oval, before returning this year to the Anmok Coffee Street by the sea, where Gangneung’s coffee culture first flourished.
Second, the city should actively pursue and host major domestic and international coffee events, including the Korea National Barista Championship and World Barista Championship, to strengthen its position as Korea’s coffee capital.
Third, the report recommends developing seasonal coffee-themed events that capitalize on Gangneung’s natural attractions: spring coffee events amid cherry blossoms, summer coffee experiences at Gyeongpo Beach, the main coffee festival in autumn, and winter coffee events featuring the snow-covered seaside.
The researchers propose organizing events on a quarterly basis throughout the year. The first quarter could feature new coffee equipment exhibitions, while the second quarter would focus on barista competitions.
The main coffee festival would take place in the third quarter, followed by coffee industry seminars and tourist experience programs in the fourth quarter.
“Through diverse events, coffee-related competitions, and festivals, Gangneung can reinforce its status as Korea’s premier coffee city,” Kim’s team concluded.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
