Visitors watch a street performance at Bangi Market in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul in this undated photo.
Courtesy of Songpa District Office The traditional open-air markets of Songpa District in southeastern Seoul have long served as the hyperlocal culinary backbones of their neighborhoods, anchored by vendors hawking everything from fresh produce to hand-pinched dumplings.
But as shifting consumer habits and the relentless rise of e-commerce squeeze these historic commercial hubs, local authorities are turning to a vibrant, nocturnal strategy to lure back a younger generation of shoppers.
Songpa District, a sprawling area in the southeastern part of the capital, announced that it will host a series of food and cultural night festivals across five traditional markets and commercial streets throughout June.
The initiative marks a significant expansion of a pilot program that, at its peak last year, drew up to 3,000 visitors a day to the district's labyrinthine alleys.
