The 30th Ganggyeong Jeotgal Festival will be held for 4 days from October 15 to 18 around the Geumgang River floodplain in Ganggyeong-eup, Nonsan City, Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong Province). Jeotgal is Korean salted, fermented seafood. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

This year's festival theme is 'Ganggyeong Jeotgal and Sangwol Sweet Potatoes, Finally the Best!' The festival centres on Ganggyeong's history and culture and on local specialties including jeotgal, with food, performances and hands-on activities arranged alongside.

At the signature programme, 'Global Ganggyeong Jeotgal Gimjang Festa 2026', visitors can try making kimchi with Ganggyeong jeotgal, and gimjang (kimchi) will be sold. The Ganggyeong Port Market Hanmadang opens with an opening ceremony and a pungmul (traditional percussion) street parade, then recreates the old port market with a market activity area, bobusang (travelling peddler) play and jultagi (tightrope walking).

The food programme is built around Ganggyeong jeotgal and Sangwol sweet potatoes. Along with promotional sales booths, a barbecue camp and a bibimbap activity will run, as well as a Sangwol sweet potato pizza-making class, a Ganggyeong jeotgal fusion cooking activity and a Matkkaljeot activity for making seasoned jeotgal such as eorigul (spicy salted oysters). A global food corner, a local food corner, the Nonsan 5 Products Dessert Cafe, the Ganggyeong Noeul Market, a Nonsan City agricultural specialties promotional sales booth and a goods shop will also open.

Performances begin with an opening celebration performance featuring an opening fireworks show and end with a closing performance. During the festival there will be a Riverside Concert, a Companion Concert, the Nonsan Artists Masil Festa, the Ganggyeong Noeul Music Festival and the Ganggyeong Noeul EDM Party, and a magic balloon show, a residents' autonomy committee harmony gathering and a port market pungmul gathering are also scheduled.

In addition, a Ganggyeong Geumgang River waterway history and culture tour, the Ganggyeong Jeotgal Bio LAP and the Ganggyeong Noeul Chrysanthemum Exhibition will run, and the Ganggyeong Noeul Train, Fantasy Play Land, a nostalgic play area and an industry-academia exchange promotion hall will also be provided. For details, call 041-730-2971 or 2973.

Event overview

  • Dates: October 15 to October 18
  • Operating hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Inquiries: 041-730-2971, 2973

Also in Chungnam during the same period

2 other festivals are being held in Chungnam during the Ganggyeong Jeotgal Festival.

By Festival Times' count, 49 festivals are taking place nationwide during the Ganggyeong Jeotgal Festival. The full October schedule can be filtered by region and date on the festival calendar.

The detailed schedule is available on the festival details page. Programmes and fees may change at the organisers' discretion.