Food
‘Taxchelin’ festival returns to Busan with taxi driver-recommended local restaurants
haps Magazine Korea
May 18, 2026
Taxchelin (Photo by City of Busan/courtesy of haps Magazine Korea)
The city of Busan will hold the 11th Busan Original Downtown Revitalization Festival, “Taxchelin,” from May 22 to 24 across the city’s original downtown districts and parts of Nam-gu, highlighting local restaurants recommended by veteran taxi drivers.
The annual food festival focuses on long-running neighborhood restaurants and lesser-known local dining spots selected by taxi drivers who have spent years navigating Busan’s streets.
This year’s festival expands beyond the traditional downtown districts of Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, and Yeongdo-gu to include Nam-gu for the first time.
One of the festival’s main features will be the release of the 2026 “Taxchelin Guide,” a food guidebook introducing local restaurants and culinary attractions around Busan.
Beginning May 20, the guidebook will be distributed through major Kyobo Bookstore branches in Busan, Seoul, Daegu, Daejeon, Changwon, and other cities.
An English-language version will also be available for foreign visitors and will include QR codes linking to multilingual menus and maps through the “Busan Ollae” tourism platform.
The festival’s opening ceremony will take place at Busan Station Plaza on May 22 at 7 p.m., where organizers will unveil a special collaboration menu created by the historic Chinatown dumpling restaurant Shinbalwon and chef Park Gi-seop of Haeundae’s Michelin Guide-listed “Sogonggan Dining.”
The collaboration dish will later be sold in limited quantities during the festival and for a temporary period at Shinbalwon’s restaurant location.
Additional festival programs include guided walking missions through the old downtown, food-themed running tours, night market-style food and alcohol pairings, taxi-driver-led restaurant tours, and a food bus tour focused on Nam-gu cuisine.
Organizers will also launch a dedicated festival webpage this year, allowing visitors to access schedules, downloadable guidebooks, restaurant coupons, and reservation information without installing a separate mobile app.
Busan City said the festival will also connect with broader tourism campaigns promoting the city’s coastal attractions and regional travel programs during the spring season.