Seoul's 'Oraegage Week' celebrates 150 historic local shops

Seoul is hosting a 12-day event, Oraegage Week, from Wednesday to October 25 to showcase long-standing local restaurants and shops and the neighborhoods surrounding them, according to the city government. This year, 15 new shops from four districts in northeastern Seoul – Gwangjin, Dongdaemun, Seongdong, and Jungnang – have been added to the program, bringing the total number of recognized stores to 150.

Oraegage, a term derived from Korean that roughly translates to "old shops that will endure," is an annual program initiated by the city in 2017. The initiative targets eateries, traditional crafts, and cultural establishments with ties to Seoul's heritage, aiming to promote their stories and transform them into tourist attractions.

Cho Sung-ho, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Tourism and Sports Bureau, emphasized that Oraegage are "precious tourism assets that have preserved local character while passing down Seoul's flavors and stories over many years." The city hopes that Oraegage Week will provide citizens and tourists with the chance to rediscover the allure of Seoul's historic eateries and alleyways, invigorating local culture.