Chuncheon City to invest 1 Billion KRW in Folk Flea Market after BTS V’s (Kim Taehyung) visit turns it into a local tourist attraction

Chuncheon City aims to capitalize on V’s (Kim Taehyung) influence and develop a traditional market in Onui-dong, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, into a landmark.

Recently, the Chuncheon Pungmul Market (Chuncheon Folk Flea Market) gained attention online after BTS member V, who is currently serving in the military, visited the site.

Taehyung, who enlisted in December 2023 and is serving in the 2nd Army Corps in Chuncheon, updated fans about his whereabouts on Instagram on February 23.

Fans quickly speculated about the location of one of Taehyung’s photos and confirmed that he had been sitting on a bench in Chuncheon Pungmul Market, located under the railway bridge of the Gyeongchun Line. Above the bench, an excerpt from Camellia Blossoms, a novel by Chuncheon-born writer Kim Yu-jeong, is engraved.

After identifying the location, fans expressed their desire to visit the market in online communities. One fan commented, “I’ll make a note of it and visit the market when I go to Chuncheon.”

According to Chosun Daily, Chuncheon City announced plans to develop the market into a major local attraction following the increased attention from V’s visit. 

Having been selected for a specialized market development project by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the city plans to invest 1 Billion KRW (approximately $685,000) by next year to enhance the market’s appeal as a tourist destination.

Chuncheon Pungmul Market is a traditional five-day market that stretches about 500 meters beneath the Gyeongchun Line’s elevated railway. It is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Namchuncheon Station, the Chuncheon intercity bus terminal, and the express bus terminal, making it easily accessible for both locals and tourists traveling by train or bus.

Unlike most traditional markets, Chuncheon Pungmul Market is surrounded by high-rise buildings, creating a distinctive and striking atmosphere. On market days, it is filled with a variety of street stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, snacks, and miscellaneous goods.