English 한국어
At a glance
| Dates | October 23 to October 25, 2026 (Korea time) |
|---|---|
| City | Gimcheon |
| Venue | Jikji Cultural Park (직지문화공원) |
| Address (Korean) | 경상북도 김천시 대항면 직지사길 118 Show this to a taxi driver or paste it into a map app. Naver Map · Google Maps |
| Admission | Free (general admission; some experiences and programs may charge fees) |
| Booking | Not required for general admission; Kakao T direct shuttle requires reservations |
| English services | Whether English-language guidance, English booking pages, or English-speaking staff are available is not confirmed. |
| Official site | korean.visitkorea.or.kr |
What is Gimcheon Gimbap Festival?
The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival (김천김밥축제) is a festival where visitors can taste local gimbap, regional specialities, and unique gimbap varieties from across Korea. It also features gimbap-themed exhibitions, hands-on programs, and performances.
The festival grounds are divided into four main themed zones:
- Jikji Cultural Park (직지문화공원) (Gimbap Plaza / 김밥광장): Features the Gimbap Factory (김밥공장), Premium Local Gimbap (명품로컬김밥), Gimcheon Dessert Zone (김천디저트존), Gimcheon Speciality Zone (김천특산품존), Main Stage (메인무대), and the Kkodari 3-line poem & Gimbap Heaven 4-line poem exhibition (꼬달이 3행시&김밥천국 4행시 전시).
- Samyeongdaesa Park (사명대사공원) (Gimbap Heaven / 김밥천국): Features Unique Eight Provinces Gimbap (전국이색팔도김밥), Curating Gimbap (큐레이팅김밥), Gimbap Cooking King Contest Zone (김밥쿡킹대회존), Gimbap Art Experience Hall (김밥아트체험관), Gimbap Mailbox (김밥우체통), Gimbap A Line & Gimbap A Cut (김밥한줄&김밥한컷), Gimbap Busking (김밥버스킹), and Gimbap Cosplay (김밥코스프레).
- Samyeongdaesa Park Peace Pagoda (사명대사공원 평화의 탑) (Gimbap Event Yard / 김밥이벤트마당): Features Gimcheon Signature Gimbap (김천시그니처 김밥), Kkodari Goods Shop (꼬달이 굿즈샵), Gimbap & Cider Zone (김밥&사이다존), Gimbap Experience Booth Zone (김밥체험부스존), Hanbok Experience Zone (한복체험존), Fringe Stage (프린지무대), and Sponsor Booth Zone (후원부스존).
- Eco-friendly Ecological Park (친환경생태공원) (Gimbap Playground / 김밥놀이터): Features Making Snack Kkodari (과자꼬달이 만들기), Gimbap Air Bounce (김밥에어바운스), Gimbap Arcade (김밥오락실), Gimbap Maze Experience (김밥 미로체험), Gimbap Train (김밥열차), Fringe Stage (프린지무대), and Experience Booths (체험부스).
Dates and venue for Gimcheon Gimbap Festival 2026
The festival runs from October 23 to October 25, 2026. Gimcheon City (김천시), North Gyeongsang Province (경상북도), hosts the event.
- October 23, 2026: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- October 24, 2026: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- October 25, 2026: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The festival area encompasses Jikji Cultural Park at 118 Jikjisa-gil, Daehang-myeon, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Samyeongdaesa Park at 130 Jikjisa-gil, Daehang-myeon, connected with Eco-friendly Ecological Park.
Stage and street performances take place daily:
- Main Stage (메인무대): Starts at 4:00 p.m. daily. Bobby Kim (바비킴) performs on October 23; Jadu (자두) and MC Park Young-jin (MC박영진) perform on October 24; Cheeze (치즈) performs on October 25.
- Street performances: The Dongmi Bicycle Music Band (동미자전거음악단) performs daily at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Admission and booking
General admission to all festival areas is free and does not require ticketing. However, certain experience and auxiliary programs may charge fees.
For inquiries, contact 054-420-6714.
How to get there
Transportation options operating for the festival include:
- Around 60 shuttle buses.
- Tourism-oriented Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) known as “Picnic Taxi” (소풍택시).
- Kakao T direct shuttle buses departing from major metropolitan hubs nationwide, which operate on a reservation system.
What to know before you go
- On-site facilities include mobile Kakao Pay QR ordering and payment systems, dedicated KakaoMap map service, and luggage storage service.
- Restroom facilities have been expanded with 5 units across 3 women-only restroom locations.
- Operating information may change, so verify specific program details and times on the official page before departing.
Questions visitors ask
Is admission to the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival free?
Yes, general admission to all festival zones is free without ticketing, though some individual hands-on or side programs may charge separate fees.
What are the festival hours?
The festival operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on October 23, and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on October 24 and October 25, 2026.
Do I need to book shuttle buses in advance?
Kakao T direct shuttle buses departing from major hubs nationwide operate on a reservation basis. Around 60 local shuttle buses and Picnic Taxi services are also deployed.
What performers will be at the main stage?
Performances start daily at 4:00 p.m., featuring Bobby Kim on October 23, Jadu and MC Park Young-jin on October 24, and Cheeze on October 25.
English names on this page are plain renderings of the Korean names unless the official source uses an English name; the Korean name is shown so you can search for it or show it to someone.
This page is the English edition of the Korean guide and states only what that guide confirmed against the official source. Details can change; check the official site before you go. Last checked: 2026-10-12 (Korea time).