Sunchang Jangryu Festival
Oct 15 – Oct 18, 2026 · Jeollabuk-do
The 2026 edition ran Oct 15 – Oct 18, 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
The Sunchang Jangryu Festival celebrates Korea’s traditional fermented foods in Sunchang, a town best known for gochujang and doenjang. The festival returns for its 21st edition from October 15 to 18, 2026, under the theme “A World of Flavors, Captured in Sunchang.” The main venues are Sunchang Gochujang Village and Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of hands-on activities, performances, exhibitions, and food, with a focus on traditional fermented sauces and Korean cuisine. Signature programs include Global Gochujang Making, where Korean and international visitors make gochujang together, and the Royal Gochujang Tribute Procession, which reenacts the Joseon-era tradition of presenting Sunchang gochujang to the king. Other highlights include the Global Jang Culture School and opportunities to make kimchi, makgeolli (unrefined rice wine), and meju (fermented soybean blocks). Visitors can also explore Sunchang Fermentation Village 1997, play the augmented reality (AR) mission game Find King Jangchu, and stop by the Sauce Lounge to discover more about Sunchang’s fermented food culture.
Why go
Sunchang is Korea's best-known town for gochujang and doenjang, and this festival marks its 21st edition celebrating that fermented-food heritage. Visitors can join hands-on programs such as Global Gochujang Making and watch the Royal Gochujang Tribute Procession, which reenacts the Joseon-era custom of presenting royal gochujang. The event spans Sunchang Gochujang Village and the Fermentation Theme Park, with extras like kimchi and makgeolli making, an AR game, and a sauce-tasting lounge.
Getting there from Seoul
Sunchang-gun has no KTX station of its own, so the usual route is KTX or ITX-Saemaeul from Seoul to Jeongeup Station, then a local bus or taxi onward to the festival venues. There are also direct intercity buses from Seoul's bus terminals toward Sunchang, though services to smaller towns run less frequently, so check schedules ahead. Total travel time from Seoul is roughly 3 hours either way.
Tips
- The venue address is outside central Sunchang, so arrange a taxi or check for festival shuttles for the final leg from Jeongeup or the bus terminal.
- Entry is free but some hands-on activities (making your own gochujang, meju, or makgeolli) may carry a materials fee.
- Hours run 09:00–21:00, so an evening visit avoids midday crowds and heat and still catches performances.
Best for: food lovers, families, culture enthusiasts, photographers.
Program
Global Gochujang Making, Royal Gochujang Tribute Procession, Sunchang Fermentation Village 1997, Global Jang Culture School
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
Other festivals in Jeollabuk-do
Jeollabuk-do
Sunchang KOREA Tteokbokki Festa
Nov 21 – Nov 22, 2026
A regional specialty festival centered on tteokbokki, an icon representing K-Food, is held in Sunchang, the home of fermentation. Centered on unique tteokbokki recipes made with the region's traditional fermented sauces, the festival combines diverse content such as exhibitions, tastings, hands-on experiences, and photo zones to bring together gastronomy and tourism. By blending Sunchang's distinctive fermentation culture with the broad popularity of K-Food, it offers a variety of attractions for people of all ages to enjoy, with content designed to satisfy all five senses for family visitors and the MZ generation alike. Beyond the enjoyment of great flavors, it offers special, shareable moments through photo zones perfect for pictures and hands-on content, making it a leading food festival that also helps boost the local economy.
Gwangju & Jeollanam-do
The 16th Gwangju Biennale
Sep 5 – Nov 15, 2026
The 16th Gwangju Biennale, 《You Must Change Your Life》, opening on September 5, 2026, takes its title from the final line of a poem published by Rainer Maria Rilke in 1908. In the poem, the speaker faces a broken ancient statue and experiences a moment in which the way they see the world is overturned. As their perspective and position shift, we come to realize that we can no longer go on living as we did before. I must change.
Reach travelers heading to Jeollabuk-do: sponsor this page.
Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site