Kim Sakgat Cultural Festival
Oct 16 – Oct 18, 2026 · Gangwon
Overview
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.
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site