Gumi, North Gyeongsang, created the ‘Gyochon1991 Cultural Street’ in 2025. [Photo=Gumi City]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Gumi, the birthplace of South Korea\u2019s chicken franchise scene, is reinventing itself as a global K\u2011food destination.
Gumi City announced it has been chosen for the final round of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute\u2019s 2026 K\u2011Gourmet Belt (Chicken Belt) development program.<\/p>\n
The win rewards the city\u2019s ahead\u2011of\u2011the\u2011curve investments and its public\u2011private partnership model \u2014 including efforts to turn the original Gyochon location into a landmark \u2014 which were already in motion before the competition.
The first Gyochon Chicken opened in Gumi in 1991. The city has recast the brand\u2019s rise from a tiny shop to a global name as a kind of \u201cbrand pilgrimage\u201d \u2014 think McDonald\u2019s original in Chicago or Starbucks\u2019 flagship in Seattle.
Since 2024, Gumi has been building the supporting infrastructure through the Gyochon No.1 Landmark Project: it designated an honorary street and launched the Gyochon1991 Cultural Street in June of last year.
The impact was immediate. The flagship store\u2019s sales climbed by more than 40%, and visitor numbers more than doubled, providing clear data that the initiative is reviving the local business district.
The city will put the secured project budget of 200 million KRW (approximately $150,000 USD) toward immersive tourist programming developed with Gyochon F&B Co., Ltd. and tour operator NorangPungSeon Co., Ltd.<\/p>\n
The approach goes beyond tastings. Gumi plans hands\u2011on experiences that weave the brand\u2019s startup story together with local culture \u2014 a tourism model built on narrative and participation rather than just sampling.
Gumi is also positioning itself to welcome international visitors by leveraging easy access to the new Daegu\u2013Gyeongbuk Airport, slated to open in 2030.
By linking proven local food attractions \u2014 like the established Gumi Ramen Festival \u2014 the city aims to move visitors from one\u2011day trips to stay\u2011and\u2011dine itineraries, transforming Gumi into a multi\u2011day culinary destination.
Mayor Kim Jang\u2011ho said, “We will continue to develop Gumi\u2019s distinctive offerings so the city becomes a sought\u2011after destination for both international visitors and domestic tourists.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gumi, the birthplace of chicken franchises in South Korea, is set to become a K-food hub with the 2026 K-Gourmet Belt project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr\/image\/2026\/04\/CP-2023-0070\/image-24cc586b-2dde-4583-b07e-c45ac0bafd9b.jpeg","footnotes":""},"categories":[278098],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-255539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food"],"yoast_head":"\n
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