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Opening of the Busan Old Downtown Culinary Festival
The 'Taxi Shulain' festival, a representative event where you can experience local cuisine in Busan's old downtown, will be held this year in an even more expanded format. The city of Busan announced that the 11th Busan Old Downtown Revitalization Festival will be held from May 22 to 24 across Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, Yeongdo-gu, and Nam-gu.
'Taxi Shulain' is a representative culinary event in Busan that introduces true local restaurants recommended by experienced taxi drivers who have been exploring Busan's alleyways for over 10 years. This festival is evolving into a content-centered festival that combines local culture experiences with old downtown tourism, going beyond simply providing food.
There is much anticipation for interest and participation in this festival where people can experience Busan's diverse food and culture.
This year, the scope of Busan's old downtown has expanded beyond the existing four districts to include Nam-gu, offering more opportunities to enjoy local restaurants and culinary culture. Various festivals will be held around Busan Station Square, Yurari Plaza, and the Busan Modern History Museum.
2026 Taxi Shulain Basic Information
The Taxi Shulain festival will be held in 2026.
The festival period is from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, and will take place in the Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, Yeongdo-gu, and Nam-gu areas.
The festival is hosted by the Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan Festival Organizing Committee, with related inquiries available at 051-713-5000.
The center of the festival is the 'restaurants recommended by taxi drivers'. Tourists will be able to experience the true local culture of Busan through a guidebook composed of hidden gems, long-established shops, pubs, and places suitable for solo dining, all recommended by taxi drivers.
This year, accessibility to the ‘Taxi Shulain Guidebook’ has been greatly improved through collaboration with Kyobo Bookstore. This guidebook can now be conveniently obtained at various major locations such as the Busan headquarters, Centum City, Ulsan, Daegu, Daejeon, Sejong, and Changwon.
Also,考虑ing foreign tourists, an English edition and foreign language menus using QR codes will be provided, which is expected to enhance the convenience of Busan tourism.
Opening Ceremony and Collaboration with Shinbalwon
The highlight of the festival is the opening ceremony, which will be held at 7 PM on May 22 at Busan Station Square. This event will feature a special menu in collaboration with ‘Shinbalwon’, a representative old establishment from Busan's Chinatown, and chef Park Gi-seop from the Michelin-starred restaurant 'Sogonggan Dining'.
The new menu to be released will include two types of dumplings, a limited edition menu utilizing Busan's specialties. After the event, these special dumplings will be sold exclusively at Shinbalwon, so interest is encouraged.
The opening ceremony will feature various programs.
First, there will be an awards ceremony for Dongbaek Star restaurants, along with a special dining course.
Additionally, Taxi Shulain's new menu will be revealed, and a gourmet performance will be available for viewing.
Enjoy a course meal composed of amuse-bouche, appetizer, main dish, and dessert made with fresh local ingredients at local restaurants in Busan. The opening ceremony requires a pre-reservation and has a cost of 13,900 won per person.
Rich Experiences in the Old Downtown
This year, Taxi Shulain is breaking away from traditional restaurant introductions and expanding experiential content significantly.
Notably, highlighted programs include the following:
Old Downtown Explorer Training Course, Taxi Shulain Run the Old Downtown, Taxi Shulain Guide Taxi, Mi&Mi Bus Tour, Taxi Shulain Night View Pojangmacha, Munjanghanip Bookstore, etc.
The ‘Old Downtown Explorer Training Course’ is a walking food tour where participants complete missions while exploring Jung-gu, Seo-gu, and Dong-gu. This course combines busking, events, and local content experiences.
Also, ‘Taxi Shulain Run the Old Downtown’ is a unique program that combines running and culinary experiences. Participants will run through Dong-gu, Seo-gu, and Yeongdo-gu, and enjoy foods from restaurants selected by Taxi Shulain.
The 'Taxi Shulain Night View Pojangmacha' held in Busan's Yurari Plaza is attracting many people's attention. In collaboration with the Jung-gu region's merchants' association, it provides food and beverage combinations using various local specialties such as dried fish and seafood.
Especially at this night view pojangmacha, a chance is provided to taste a menu that embodies the essence of the old downtown, such as boiling seafood, grilled dried fish, and mentaiko mayo rice balls all in one place.
| Category | Period | Location | Content | Remarks |
| Taxi Shulain Guide | 5. 20.(Wed) ~ *Distribution | - | - Guide to local restaurants recommended by veteran taxi drivers with over 10 years of experience- Composition: Dongbaek Star, Wheel Gourmand, Liquor Taste Downtown, Solo Dining Restaurants, etc. | |
| Opening Ceremony | 5. 22.(Fri) 19:00 | Busan Station Square | - Taxi Shulain Opening Ceremony with citizens!-Composition: Introduction of Taxi Shulain, Dongbaek Star Awards, Dining Time, etc. | Fee 13,900 won per person (Pre-reservation) |
| [Ticket Reservation] Interpark https://nol.yanolja.com/ticket/products/26006574 | ||||
| Taxi Shulain Run the Old Downtown | 5. 23.(Sat) ~ 24.(Sun)/2 days | Dong-gu, Jung-gu, Seo-gu | - A thematic tour set out with the travel concept ‘A City Remembered by Taste’, combining the gastronomic culture and local content of the old downtown. Participants will enjoy various activities such as walking tours with missions and ongoing events, including busking performances. | Fee 10,000 won per person (Pre-reservation) Self-guided tour |
| [Ticket Reservation] Interpark https://nol.yanolja.com/ticket/products/26006489 | ||||
| Taxi Shulain Run the Old Downtown | Dong-gu, Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Yeongdo-gu | - A running tour that combines the joy of running and the joy of eating- Features unique routes through old downtown attractions and meals from selected restaurants by Taxi Shulain | Fee 15,000 won per person (Pre-reservation)/2 times a day | |
| [Ticket Reservation] Interpark https://nol.yanolja.com/ticket/products/26006490 | ||||
| Night View Pojangmacha | Yurari Plaza | - Menu composed of dishes utilizing Busan and old downtown specialties along with beverage pairings- In cooperation with the Jung-gu merchants' association (dried seafood, live seafood, etc.) | Fee *Varies by menu | |
| Taxi Shulain Guiding Taxi | Jung-gu (Nampo Station) | - Taxi tour with memories featuring customized courses with recommended spots and restaurants by taxi drivers, integrated with the applicants' stories | Free (Story submission)/2 teams per day | |
| Beauty & Taste Gourmet Tour | Nam-gu | - Tour program combining local stories and culinary culture- Enhances immersion through cultural interpreters connecting locations and local cultures | Fee 20,000 won per person (Pre-reservation)/2 times a day | |
| Tasting Experience Group | May ~ | SNS | - Tasting experience group (influencers, citizens) operation* Viral marketing such as visits to selected restaurants, tastings, experience reviews before, during, and after the event- Program summary for Taxi Shulain Honor Hall (most visits, most reviews, etc.) | - |
Recommended Date Courses in Busan
This Busan festival is gaining popularity as a date spot in May. The beautiful night views at locations like Busan Station Square, Nampo-dong, Yeongdo Bridge, and Yurari Plaza combine with the essence of the old downtown, enhancing the allure of the trip.
In particular, Munjanghanip Bookstore is drawing attention as a unique venue that combines culinary delights with reading. It enjoys great popularity as a date spot among the MZ generation due to the simultaneous experience of curated books from Kyobo Bookstore and local food content.
The dedicated Taxi Shulain webpage provides easy access to program schedules, coupons, and reservation information, offering tourists greater convenience.
Through this Taxi Shulain festival, the city of Busan aims to revitalize tourism in the old downtown, stimulate local commerce, and further strengthen Busan's culinary city brand. If you wish to experience the local essence of Busan and authentic restaurants, this festival in May is highly recommended as a must-visit place.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. When and where will the 2026 Taxi Shulain festival be held?
It will be held from May 22 to 24, 2026, in Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, Yeongdo-gu, and Nam-gu in Busan.
The 2026 Taxi Shulain festival will take place over three days from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, in the areas of Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, Yeongdo-gu, and Nam-gu. It is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan Festival Organizing Committee, providing opportunities to experience true local restaurants and culture in Busan's old downtown.
Q. What are the main programs and features of the Taxi Shulain festival?
It includes various programs such as restaurants recommended by taxi drivers, experiential content, night view pojangmacha, and gourmet tours.
The festival will be organized around hidden restaurants, old establishments, and places suitable for solo dining, all recommended by Busan's taxi drivers. Major programs will include the Old Downtown Explorer Training Course, Taxi Shulain Run the Old Downtown, Taxi Shulain Guiding Taxi, Mi&Mi Bus Tour, Taxi Shulain Night View Pojangmacha, and Munjanghanip Bookstore, greatly expanding experiential content. In particular, the night view pojangmacha will offer a variety of snacks and beverages using local specialties from Busan.
Q. What are the details and reservation information for the 2026 Taxi Shulain opening ceremony?
It will begin at 7 PM on May 22 at Busan Station Square, featuring a collaborative menu with Shinbalwon and a Korean restaurant, with pre-reservation required for a fee.
The opening ceremony will start at 7 PM on May 22 at Busan Station Square, featuring a collaboration between Shinbalwon from Busan's Chinatown and chef Park Gi-seop from the Michelin-recommended Korean restaurant 'Sogonggan Dining', who will unveil special dumplings made with Busan's specialties. This event requires pre-reservation with a cost of 13,900 won per person and will feature gourmet performances and award ceremonies for restaurants.
Q. How can I obtain the Taxi Shulain guidebook?
It can be obtained for free at the Kyobo Bookstore in Busan headquarters and various other major locations nationwide.
The Taxi Shulain guidebook has greatly improved accessibility through collaboration with Kyobo Bookstore this year. It can be easily obtained not only at the Busan headquarters but also at major Kyobo Bookstore locations such as Centum City, Ulsan, Daegu, Daejeon, Sejong, and Changwon. Also, to facilitate foreign visitors, English and QR-code-based foreign language menus will be provided, enhancing the convenience of tourism.
Q. What are the recommended date courses in Busan for the Taxi Shulain festival?
Popular date spots include Busan Station Square, Nampo-dong, Yeongdo Bridge, Yurari Plaza, and Munjanghanip Bookstore.
The festival is regarded as a date spot by combining scenic attractions of Busan's old downtown with night view landmarks. Beautiful night views can be enjoyed at Busan Station Square, Nampo-dong, Yeongdo Bridge, and Yurari Plaza, while Munjanghanip Bookstore is especially popular among the MZ generation as a space that combines gastronomic experiences with reading. Various culinary contents and cultural experiences are intertwined to create a unique date course.
