2026 7th Kimchi Day X 4th WeKim Festival
Nov 20, 2026 · Seoul
Overview
The '2026 7th Kimchi Day Commemorative Event' is held to celebrate Kimchi Day (November 22), a legally designated memorial day. Kimchi Day was designated under the 'Kimchi Industry Promotion Act,' and its date carries the meaning that each individual kimchi ingredient (11) comes together to produce 22 health benefits (22). The event is hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and organized by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), the World Institute of Kimchi, and the Korea Kimchi Association, and will be held on November 20, 2026, at Exhibition Hall 1 of aT Center in Seoul. Part 1, the Kimchi Day commemorative ceremony, consists of a progress report, a VIP performance, and an awards ceremony for meritorious contributors and the kimchi evaluation contest. Part 2 is the World Institute of Kimchi's 4th WeKim Festival, themed 'Our Fermentation Science, Kimchi for Everyone,' featuring a contest awards ceremony, a keynote lecture, and a prize drawing. The venue will also host an exhibition of kimchi research achievements, tastings of startup idea products, a kimjang (kimchi-making) culture performance, a kimchi market, an exhibition of award-winning entries from the kimchi evaluation and kimchi cooking competitions, and food trucks.
Why go
This one-day event on November 20, 2026 marks Kimchi Day, a legally designated memorial day in Korea, with a commemorative ceremony, awards for kimchi contests, and a VIP performance. The accompanying 4th WeKim Festival adds a kimchi market, tastings of startup food products, a kimjang (kimchi-making) culture performance, an exhibition of award-winning entries, and food trucks at the aT Center.
Getting there from Seoul
The venue is already within Seoul, in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, so no intercity travel is needed — it's reached via Seoul's own subway and bus network rather than a KTX or express bus terminal. The aT Center is served by nearby stations on Seoul Subway Line 3 and the Sinbundang Line in the Yangjae/Nambu Terminal area, with a short walk or taxi ride to the venue, and local buses connect it to Gangnam and Seocho.
Tips
- This is a single-day event (November 20, 2026 only), so there's no other date to catch it.
- It's held across an exhibition hall with a market, tastings, and food trucks, so wear comfortable shoes for walking.
- Signage and announcements are likely mostly in Korean, so a translation app can help at the market and tasting stalls.
Best for: food lovers, culture enthusiasts, families.
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site