Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival
Oct 2 – Oct 11, 2026 · Gyeongsangnam-do
The 2026 edition ran Oct 2 – Oct 11, 2026. 2027 dates have not been announced yet; this page is updated automatically when the organizer publishes them. Check the official site for the latest.
Overview
Celebrating its 26th edition, the Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival is a Korean medicine and wellness festival inspired by Donguibogam, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, and the pristine natural environment of Jirisan Mountain. Held at Donguibogam Village, the festival explores the history and culture of traditional Korean medicine through hands-on activities, exhibitions, performances, and health and wellness programs. Signature programs such as Sancheong Hyeminseo, My Body’s Herbal Remedy Experience, and the Korean Medicine Wellness Hall give visitors opportunities to experience Korean approaches to healthy aging and wellness firsthand. The festival also features local specialties, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities, while highlighting Sancheong’s medicinal herbs and other Korean medicine resources, its anti-aging industry, and its health and wellness tourism offerings. By expanding programs for international visitors and overseas promotion, it aims to share Sancheong’s Korean medicine culture with the world and grow into a global festival attracting visitors from Korea and abroad.
Why go
Now in its 26th year, this festival at Donguibogam Village celebrates Korean traditional medicine inspired by the Donguibogam text (inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register) and the surrounding Jirisan Mountain environment. Visitors can try hands-on wellness programs like Sancheong Hyeminseo, My Body's Herbal Remedy Experience, and the Korean Medicine Wellness Hall, alongside exhibitions, performances, and local herb specialties. Admission is free, with opening and closing ceremonies bookending the ten-day run.
Getting there from Seoul
Sancheong-gun has no direct KTX station, so the usual route is KTX to Jinju, then a local or express bus onward to Sancheong Bus Terminal. Alternatively, an intercity express bus runs directly from Seoul (Nambu Bus Terminal) to Sancheong. From Sancheong Bus Terminal, a local bus or taxi covers the final stretch to Donguibogam Village.
Tips
- Confirm bus/train connections in advance, as this is a rural area with limited schedules.
- Venue opens 09:00–18:00; plan your day trip or overnight stay around these hours.
- Entry is free, so budget instead for food, herbal products, and transport.
Best for: wellness seekers, families, nature lovers, traditional medicine enthusiasts.
Program
Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, Sancheong Hyeminseo, My Body’s Herbal Remedy Experience, Korean Medicine Wellness Hall, and more
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
Other festivals in Gyeongsangnam-do
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The Jinan Plateau Kimchi-Bossam Festival is a regional festival held in Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk State, organized to combine Korea's own traditional kimjang (kimchi-making) culture with a festival format in order to spread a community culture shared by family and neighbors. Amid a dietary environment that is gradually changing due to the rise of nuclear families and single-person households, the festival aims to revisit the traditional value of kimjang culture and to share affection among neighbors through the process of making and sharing kimchi together. A variety of hands-on and participatory programs are run, including kimjang experience programs using local agricultural products grown in the clean natural environment of the Jinan Plateau, as well as kimchi and bossam food programs, which also help promote the excellence of local specialty agricultural products and encourage the consumption of local produce. It is a festival where visitors can experience both the continuation of traditional kimjang culture and the value of local agricultural products.
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site