Discover the Best Local Eats: 11th Busan Urban Revitalization Festival ‘Taxi Michelin’ Kicks Off
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(The CEN News / Reporter Seung-ryeol Lee)
The spots Busan taxi drivers call their true regulars are opening up to the public again.
Busan City announced on May 14 that it will host the 11th Busan Old Downtown Revitalization Festival, “Taksheling,” from the 22nd through the 24th at Busan Station Plaza and across the old downtown. This year the festival expands beyond Jung, Seo, Dong and Yeongdo districts to include Nam-gu.
Taksheling is a local food festival that gathers the eateries taxi drivers—who’ve worked Busan’s alleys for more than a decade—actually recommend. Unlike the touristy, buzz-driven spots, this event showcases the places drivers traditionally take their regular customers.
The opening ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. on the 22nd at Busan Station Plaza. Organizers will also debut a collaborative new menu created by Sinbalwon, a longstanding Chinatown eatery in Dong-gu, and Chef Park Ki-seop of SoGonggan Dining, a Michelin Guide–listed restaurant.
When visitors ask, “Where should I go in Busan?” taxi drivers tend to name the same places—and this year, those names headline the festival.
During the festival, the old downtown will offer hands-on programs: “Old Downtown Explorers,” who complete alley missions using a guidebook; the Taksheling Run, which pairs running with dining; night-view food stalls; and taxi gourmet tours.
Busan City is partnering with Kyobo Book Centre to distribute the guidebook at major branches nationwide. The guide will include an English edition for foreign visitors and QR-based menu guides.
As tourism shifts from selfie-driven hotspots to neighborhood alleys and local food scenes, Taksheling is positioning itself as an immersive stay-and-explore experience in the old downtown.
Busan City also plans to link the festival with the Korea Tourism Organization’s Digital Tourist Resident ID and the “A Month by the Sea” campaign to boost visitor numbers.
(The CEN News) Reporter Seung-ryeol Lee ottnews@kakao.com
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