This aerial view of Sungnyemun Gate shows a guard-changing ceremony, June 22, 2021. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

An outdoor craft beer festival will be held in the heart of Seoul next week, featuring some 20 selected craft beer breweries from across the country as well as various performances, the Namedaemun Market Merchants Association said Thursday.

The 2024 Namdaemun Market Day with Big Mac Craft Beer Festival will take place from May 29 to 31 in front of Sungnyemun on the corner of Namdaemun Market.

Sungnyemun, a stone structure featuring an arched entrance at its center, holds the esteemed status of being Korea's national treasure. Informally referred to as Namdaemun, it stands as a symbol of cultural heritage and historical significance in Korea.

The association organized the event to commemorate the establishment of a new arcade and the modernization of the surrounding environment, initiatives that local merchants believe will play a pivotal role in drawing increased numbers of international tourists to the area.

The brewery lineup includes Reindeutsch from the southernmost coastal city of Tongyong, South Gyeongsang Province; Artmonster Brewery from Seoul's Gangnam District; Dongducheon Brewery from Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province; and Mont Beer from Sokcho, Gangwon Province.

A poster for "2024 Namdaemun Market Day with Big Mac Craft Beer Festival" / Courtesy of Namedaemun Market Merchants Association

Notably, the three-day event will also present Namdaemun Beer, a new craft beer designed after Seoul's iconic landmark.

A ceremony commemorating the day of Namdaemun Market merchants is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. on May 30. Following the ceremony, attendees can anticipate a live performance by Jeon Young-rok, a renowned Korean pop singer-songwriter celebrated for his prolific career, which began with his debut in 1971 and includes numerous chart-topping hits.

The festival will then feature a singing contest among merchants and local residents, a DJ party, live music performances and recreational events.

The association said the upcoming event will become a venue where all participants, including beer lovers, can have a good time.

The event is also expected to contribute to improving the regional economy and is open to everyone. There is no entry fee.

"We invite everyone to the festival, which will light up the night of Seoul," said Moon Nam-yup, the president of the merchants association.

"We plan to offer fresh and high-quality beer made by some of the best craft beer breweries in the country with some great live music in Namdaemun, a historic landmark that stands between the past and present."