Catch Salmon in Yangyang, Savor Dosegi in Jeju... Festivals Across the Country This Weekend [National Series 2]

Starting from the 24th, the fourth weekend of October will see festivals taking place all across the country. There will be an abundance of food, sights, and activities to enjoy.

Promotional photo for Yangyang Salmon Festival. Yangyang County

▲Yangyang Salmon vs. Sokcho Gourmet vs. Yesan Three Kingdoms

The "2025 Yangyang Salmon Festival" (October 24-26), themed around autumn vitality and the cycle of ecology, will be held along the banks of Namdaecheon in Yangyang-eup. This year, more than 30 programs are scheduled, including hands-on salmon catching, a salmon cooking show, sunset live performances by Namdaecheon, and guided salmon ecology tours. The signature program, the hands-on salmon catching experience, will refund 40% of the participation fee in the form of Yangyang Love Gift Certificates to promote coexistence with local businesses. During the same period, the "8th 2025 Susan Port Sea Experience Festival" will be held around Susan Port.

In Sokcho, Gangwon Province, "2025 Sokcho Gourmet Week" (October 21-27) will take place at Sokcho Beach and Kumho-dong Centum Mark, among other locations. The event will feature cooking classes led by food stylists, "Table for the Earth" focusing on food culture in the era of climate crisis, and "Dried Seafood Day," which introduces local pairings of dried seafood and beverages from the Central Market. The "Sokcho International Food Film Festival," held during the same period, will expand its screening venues to include Sokcho Beach and Centum Mark, and the screening period will also be extended.

Event photo of Yesan Market Three Kingdoms Festival. Yesan County

In Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province, the 9th Yesan Market Three Kingdoms Festival (October 23-26) will take place at the Yesan Permanent Market. This year's festival, themed "Romantic Restaurant," features three keywords-gukbap (rice soup), noodles, and chrysanthemums-infused with a newtro (new retro) sensibility. There will be direct food sales zones and noodle stalls, as well as experiential spaces where visitors can enjoy both traditional and modern atmospheres. Activities include the "Three Kingdoms Exploration Zone," where participants solve quizzes in a classroom setting, a retro-style play titled "Deureoyu Tavern," and various games themed around the Three Kingdoms.

Habcho at Taepyeong Salt Farm. Sinan County

▲Sinan Saltwort vs. Changwon Sweet Persimmon vs. Siheung Food Pairing Festa

In Sinan County, Jeollanam-do, the "2nd Treasure Island Saltwort Festival" (October 24-25) will be held on Jeungdo, Asia's first designated Slow City. The festival will take place on a special stage within Taepyeong Salt Farm, the largest single salt farm in Korea, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival while observing the vast mudflats and a natural habitat of halophytes spanning about 11 hectares. There will be saxophone performances, a stamp tour, and hands-on experiences of traditional salt production in the salt fields.

Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do, will host the "24th Changwon Sweet Persimmon Festival" (October 25-26) at the Changwon Sweet Persimmon Theme Park. Festival events include a sweet persimmon quality contest, hands-on programs themed around sweet persimmons, a magic bubble show, a sweet persimmon concert with local singers, and busking performances. Changwon sweet persimmons boast the highest production volume in the country and are designated as National Important Agricultural Heritage No. 17 and Geographical Indication No. 117.

The first "Food Pairing Festa" (October 26), a gastronomic festival blending food, drinks, and performances, will be held around Mulwang Lake in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. Domestic and international chefs, cafes, breweries, roasteries, bartenders, and dessert artists will present their signature menus. After adult verification at the information booth, visitors can purchase a glass for 1,000 won and sample a variety of wines, beers, and cocktails at over 40 booths, while minors can enjoy non-alcoholic beverages for the same price.

Ulsan Taehwagang National Garden Autumn Festival scene. Ulsan City

▲Ulsan Autumn Garden vs. Ganghwa Hwage Garden vs. Cheongnamdae Autumn Scenery

Ulsan City will hold the "2025 Taehwagang National Garden Autumn Festival" (October 24-26) at Taehwagang National Garden. This year's festival, themed "Where the Wind Stays, Autumn Garden," will showcase a naturalistic garden designed by world-renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf, as well as chrysanthemums, pink muhly, pampas grass, cosmos, and silver grass, offering a spectacular display of autumn plants.

Ganghwa County, Incheon, will host the 2025 Ganghwa Hwage Garden Festival (October 25-26) at Hwage Garden in Gyodong-myeon. The county will hold hands-on events such as flowerpot making and traditional three-event competitions in five themed gardens blooming with autumn flowers like gujeolcho and chrysanthemums.

Iksan City, Jeollabuk-do, will hold the "Doldol Festival" (October 25-26) around the Hwangdeung Stone Product Exhibition and Promotion Center in Hwangdeung-myeon. From the newly constructed Hwangdeung Quarry Observatory, visitors can get a panoramic view of actual stone quarrying sites. The quarry tour, held eight times daily, allows participants to see heavy equipment used for quarrying and to appreciate stone sculptures crafted by stonemasons.

Autumn Scenery of Hwagejeongwon in Ganghwa. Ganghwa County

The former presidential villa Cheongnamdae, located in Munui-myeon, Cheongju, will host an autumn festival for 16 days from October 25 to November 19. Visitors can enjoy over 500 works, including chrysanthemum photo zones, tree and chrysanthemum bonsai, wood and stone arrangements, and more than 45,000 herbaceous plants such as small chrysanthemums, white chrysanthemums, petunias, and marigolds displayed throughout Cheongnamdae. The 13th Korea Food Culture Globalization Festival (October 25-26), featuring renowned Korean cuisine masters and chefs from across the country, will provide opportunities for visitors to experience traditional Korean food.

▲Jeju Dosaegi vs. Seocheon Hansan Sogokju vs. Iksan Jewelry vs. Namyangju Companion Dog Seon Meditation

The "2025 Jeju Dosaegi Festival" (October 25-26) will be held around Saebyeol Oreum in Aewol-eup, Jeju City. The festival will feature live auctions of Jeju pork and local specialties, Dony Racing, Pigcul 100, Pig Family Contest, and a special event where participants search for a key to win a gold piggy bank (1 don of gold). There will also be a dosaegi drawing contest, a flea market featuring pig characters, food trucks and local restaurants serving pork dishes, tasting corners, and discount sales zones.

In Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, the 8th Hansan Sogokju Festival (October 24-26) will be held around Hansan Traditional Market. Visitors can sample and purchase Hansan Sogokju, take part in sogokju brewing experiences, sogokju cocktail making, Kim biscuit making, and more. The festival will also feature local food booths run by Saemaeul Associations from Hwayang, Gisan, Hansan, and Masan-myeon, as well as 24 craft experience booths, making it an experiential festival for all ages.

Iksan City, Jeollabuk-do, will host the "2025 Jewel Palace Jewelry Festival" (October 22-November 2) at Jewel Palace and the Jewelry Theme Tourism Complex in Wanggu-myeon. Fifty-four businesses within Jewel Palace will participate, offering a variety of exhibitions, sales, and hands-on events. During the festival, all products except 24K gold and diamonds will be available at up to a 30% special discount.

Photo of the "Seon Meditation Festival with Companion Dogs." Bongseonsa Temple

Bongseonsa Temple, a thousand-year-old temple located in Jinjeop-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, will hold the "Seon Meditation Festival with Companion Dogs" on October 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. within the temple grounds. The festival will feature a mindful walking meditation with companion dogs, a special lecture by Professor Bae Chulhyeon (former professor of religious studies at Seoul National University) titled "Dogs Have Been Human Companions for 40,000 Years: From Human-Centered to Life-Centered Perspectives," and a variety of hands-on programs such as sports events with companion animals.

Venerable Hosan stated, "We hope to raise awareness about companion animals as precious living beings and, especially by combining Buddhism's philosophy of respect for life with companion culture, to spread the spirit of practicing a life-centered companion culture rather than a self-centered, human-focused one."