This is the second night market the city of Seoul has launched, after the first held in March at Yeouido Hangang Park near the National Assembly building, which now regularly opens every Friday and Saturday night. An average 28,000 people gathered each day for the seven-day pilot event held in October last year.

The city plans to expand the weekly events’ locations to Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Mokdong Stadium, each with different themes.

The theme of the market at Yeouido is “Around the World in a Night.” Food, souvenirs and cultural performances from various corners of the world are displayed.

The DDP night market, to launch this month, will strike a different note by focusing on youth fashion, dancing and entrepreneurship. The Mokdong Stadium market, to launch in July, will mainly sell outdoor sports merchandise and camping-style food, with performances involving monocycles and skateboards.

While this weekend’s Cheonggyecheon Square market will be a one-time seasonal event due to the special nature of the venue, where political rallies and civil organizations’ gatherings often take place, markets at DDP and Mokdong will regularly open leading into October when the dropping temperature renders outdoor activities unfavorable.

The city government said this night market is specially designed to mark the family-oriented month of May, packed with Children’s Day, Parents’ Day, Teachers’ Day and other state-designated holidays that allow for more family time.

There will be 30 mobile food trucks offering free tastings and handcrafted artisan goods.

Every day during the market period, the first 100 people who buy from the market will be given free LED bracelets upon providing receipt as proof of purchase.

The Night Doggaebi Market Festival will follow on the weekend after, May 27 and 28.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heralcorp.com)