"Let's Go Eat Gimbap": 80,000 Flock to Gimcheon as Sell-Out Frenzy Leads to Purchase Limits

80,000 Visitors in a Single Day Spark a "Gimbap Frenzy"
Over 50 Varieties Sold Out Before Noon Despite Ample Preparation

The 2025 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival, held in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk Province, was packed with visitors from the very first day, leaving barely any room to move. It was estimated that about 80,000 people visited the festival on the 25th alone, which is more than half of Gimcheon's total population of approximately 134,000. Now in its second year, the festival is being held over two days, from the 25th to the 26th, at the Jikjisa Cultural Park and Samyeongdaesa Park areas.

On the weekend of the 25th, a crowd gathered, creating a sea of people at the opening of the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival held at Samyeongdaesa Park and Jikji Cultural Park in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk Province.

Even before the event began, long lines of people waiting made it clear just how popular the festival had become. Citizens waited in lengthy queues to board shuttle buses at locations such as Gimcheon Sports Town, Green Future Science Center, and KTX Gimcheon Station. Anticipating traffic congestion, the city of Gimcheon sent out two messages in the morning alone, informing the public about restrictions on private vehicle access and urging everyone to prioritize safety.

On-site, there was a purchase limit on gimbap. Each person was limited to four rolls, but some booths sold out of their prepared gimbap before noon and had to close sales early. This year’s festival featured not only gimbap from local businesses but also gimbap from national franchises, international-style K-Gimbap, and award-winning entries from the Gimcheon Gimbap Cooking Competition, offering more than 50 varieties in total.

Online, visitors shared a wide range of reviews. Some expressed inconvenience, saying, "It took nearly two hours to reach the venue by shuttle bus," and "The lines were so long that I couldn't buy any gimbap." On the other hand, there were positive comments such as, "I waited three hours for gimbap, but it was delicious," and "Despite the crowds, the festival atmosphere was great."

The festival grounds were filled with plenty to see and experience. At the "Gimbap Factory" open kitchen, visitors could watch gimbap being made in real time on a conveyor belt. There were also interactive zones themed around pickled radish, cucumber, and ham, including the "Mujiring Zone," "Oing Zone," and "Hamjji Zone."

On the weekend of the 25th, a crowd gathered, creating a sea of people at the opening of the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival held at Samyeongdaesa Park and Jikji Cultural Park in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk Province.

After last year’s festival drew an unexpectedly large crowd of 100,000, Gimcheon City increased the number of shuttle buses fivefold and expanded the number of sales booths to 32 this year. Each booth was equipped with a kiosk and a large electronic display to provide real-time updates on the remaining gimbap stock and instantly notify visitors when items were sold out. However, on the first day, some booths still had to close sales before noon due to overwhelming demand.

The festival was conceived by Gimcheon City, drawing inspiration from the abbreviation "Kimcheon"-a play on the name of the well-known franchise "Gimbap Cheonguk" (Gimbap Heaven). A 2023 survey showed that many citizens associated Gimcheon with the image of "Gimbap Cheonguk." With 80,000 visitors on the first day alone, this year’s Gimcheon Gimbap Festival is expected to far surpass last year’s total attendance of 100,000.