Jeongseon National Heritage Night Tour
Oct 16 – Oct 18, 2026 · Happening now · Gangwon
Overview
The 2026 Jeongseon National Heritage Night Tour, themed 'Jeongseon National Heritage Walking Night Museum,' is a nighttime cultural event that connects the national heritage sites and cultural facilities throughout Jeongseon-eup via walking routes. The event features programs centered on national heritage such as Jeongseon Arirang, the Sangyujae Historic House in Jeongseon, the mulberry tree of Bongyang-ri, Jeongseon Hyanggyo (Confucian school), and the Jurassic conglomerate of Bongyang-ri, combining performances, exhibitions, hands-on experiences, guided commentary, and food. Visitors walk through the national heritage sites along with Jeongseon's alleyways, traditional market, and cultural spaces, with the event running 16 programs across 8 'Nights': Night View, Night Path, Night Story, Night History, Night Art, Night Market, Night Food, and Night Stay. The festival takes place from October 16 to 18, 2026, throughout Jeongseon-eup.
Why go
This nighttime walking festival links Jeongseon-eup's national heritage sites and cultural spaces, including the Sangyujae Historic House, Jeongseon Hyanggyo, and the Jurassic-era conglomerate rock formation at Bongyang-ri. Across 16 programs grouped into eight themed 'Nights,' visitors can take in Jeongseon Arirang performances, guided commentary, and hands-on activities while wandering the town's alleyways and traditional market after dark.
Getting there from Seoul
Jeongseon is in Gangwon Province in the eastern mountains. The most straightforward way from Seoul is an intercity/express bus from Dong-Seoul Bus Terminal to Jeongseon Bus Terminal; travelling by train is also possible via the Jeongseon Line, generally with a transfer, though the bus tends to be more direct. From the Jeongseon terminal area, the heritage sites and old town featured in this walking tour are reachable on foot.
Tips
- Bring warm layers — Gangwon evenings in mid-October can be cold for an event held after dark.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the route covers multiple heritage sites, alleyways, and the traditional market.
- Time your visit around the Night Market and Night Food programs to combine local food with the heritage sightseeing.
Best for: heritage enthusiasts, night photographers, walkers, cultural travelers.
Other festivals in Gangwon
Gangwon
Kim Sakgat Cultural Festival
Oct 16 – Oct 18, 2026
The Kim Sakgat Cultural Festival is held in Yeongwol to honor the life and literary achievements of Nango Kim Byeong-yeon (Kim Sakgat), a wandering poet of the late Joseon Dynasty. Kim Sakgat was a figure who wandered the country wearing a sakgat (a traditional woven hat), satirizing the authority and hypocrisy of society at the time, and humorously expressing the lives and sorrows of common people. Since its start in 1998, the Kim Sakgat Cultural Festival has been held every autumn, centered on the historic site area in Gimsakgat-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, which includes Kim Sakgat's tomb, his former residence, and the Nango Kim Sakgat Literature Museum. The main programs include a memorial rite honoring Kim Sakgat, the Kim Sakgat Literary Award ceremony, a nationwide writing contest and calligraphy competition, a reenactment of the Joseon-era state examination (gwageo), and literature-related academic events. Alongside these, performance, exhibition, and experience programs themed around Kim Sakgat's wandering life, humor, and artistic spirit are also held. Through the festival, the aim is to shed light on Kim Sakgat's life and literary legacy, and to carry forward the meaning of satire and humor found in his poetry in a modern way.
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site