At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Five days in the first half of October 2027, most likely 30 September–4 October or 7–11 October around the 3 October holiday. 2025 dates were announced on 10 February 2025 and the 2026 poster on 20 July 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Five days in the first half of October 2027, most likely 30 September–4 October or 7–11 October around the 3 October holiday. 2025 dates were announced on 10 February 2025 and the 2026 poster on 20 July 2026. |
| Weather | October average 22/10 °C (71/50 °F), 57 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Jeonju station, about 30 km away. |
| Admission | Entry to the festival grounds is free; individual activities such as the zipline, leisure rides and some craft and cooking sessions are charged, and food stalls sell items at about ₩4,000–10,000.General admission: Free |
| Venue | Byeokgolje reservoir embankment and festival grounds전북특별자치도 김제시 부량면 벽골제로 442 |
| Nearest station | Gimje Station (김제역), Honam Line (KTX, limited stops)Not walkable (about 10 km); free festival shuttle route 4 from the station to Byeokgolje, every 15–30 minutes |
| From Seoul | about 2 h 15 min · KTX + BusLeave from Yongsan Station · Same-night return is tightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Gimje Horizon Festival Committee (hosted by Gimje City)김제지평선축제제전위원회 / 김제시 |
| Usual timing | Five days in the first half of October around the 3 October National Foundation Day holiday (2024: 2–6 Oct; 2025: 8–12 Oct over Chuseok; 2026: 1–5 Oct). Dates have been announced in February and the poster in July. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 1999 |
| Last checked | 16 October 2026Checked against 22 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Gimje sits on the Honam plain, Korea's main rice bowl, and Byeokgolje is the embankment of a reservoir thought to date from AD 330. The festival, first held in 1999 and the only one designated an honorary cultural tourism festival for farming culture, turns the embankment and the fields beside it into a five-day show of rural Korea at harvest time. The signature event is the Byeokgolje Twin Dragon Play, in which two giant dragon puppets fight across the Central Plaza (only on two afternoons in 2026, 3 and 4 October); there is also the Ipseok tug-of-war on a thick rice-straw rope, the Presidential Cup national nongak (farmers' percussion) competition, kite flying and a torch parade. Most of the day is hands-on: cutting rice with a sickle, threshing, cooking rice in a wood-fired pot (pre-booking needed and sold out early in 2026), catching grasshoppers, a straw theme park, a zipline and a world rice-food street. Nights bring a multimedia show with lasers and fireworks over the lit embankment. In 2026 there were 62 programs. Food at the stalls is capped at modest prices (₩4,000–10,000 per item), and discount windows run twice daily. Honest caveats: it is a farm fair rather than a spectacle, the site is spread along a 3 km embankment with little shade, the Foundation Day long weekend brings large crowds, and hands-on queues are long for families. Weekdays are quieter but have no Twin Dragon Play.
Highlights
- Byeokgolje Twin Dragon Play (쌍룡놀이) at the Central Plaza, 2026: 3 October about 17:00 and 4 October 16:00–17:00
- Presidential Cup National Nongak Competition of farmers' percussion bands, 3 October 2026, 10:00–17:00
- Ipseok tug-of-war for a good harvest and the straw-sandal parade
- Paddy-field activities: rice harvesting, threshing, milling, A-frame carrying and straw-rope braiding, plus grasshopper catching in the fields
- Nightly multimedia 'fantasy show' with lasers and fireworks over the lit embankment; the 2026 finale added a giant Ssarikong and twin-dragon show
- Opening concert 1 October 2026 19:00 (Ailee, John Park) and closing concert 5 October around 19:00 (10CM)
Who it suits. Best for families with children and travellers curious about rural Korea who want to try farm work and folk games; less suited to those seeking polished stages, nightlife or easy rail access, since the site is a long embankment in open country and the main rail link is one or two KTX trains a day.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Yongsan Station to Gimje Station on the Honam line (one or two direct trains a day in autumn 2026, 2 h 12 m–2 h 20 m; from 1 Nov 2026 the 12:45 runs in 1 h 26 m; otherwise KTX to Iksan, usually 1 h 17 m–1 h 25 m, then a Mugunghwa or ITX-Saemaeul train of 12–14 minutes or taxi about 20 km to Gimje). From Gimje Station take free shuttle route 4 straight to Byeokgolje during the festival; a taxi is about 10 km. Alternatively an intercity bus from Seoul to Gimje bus terminal, then shuttle route 3.
From Busan
No direct train. Take KTX from Busan to Osong and change to a Honam-line KTX to Iksan or Gimje, then the festival shuttle (route 4 from Gimje Station) or a taxi; allow about 4 hours.
From Incheon Airport
AREX or airport bus to Seoul/Yongsan, then KTX toward Gimje or Iksan as above; allow about 4 hours.
Last leg from Gimje Station
Honam Line (KTX, limited stops). Not walkable (about 10 km); free festival shuttle route 4 from the station to Byeokgolje, every 15–30 minutes
Festival shuttle
2026: free shuttles on five routes to Byeokgolje from Gimje City Hall, the Civic Sports Ground, the intercity bus terminal, Gimje Station and Gusan Intersection, all via Jungang Hospital; 14 buses on weekdays and 20 at weekends, every 15–30 minutes, with 12 low-floor trips a day on the terminal and Gusan routes. A village loop bus ran on holidays from Habang Samgeori to the Byeokgolje Gujeong Gate. Civic Sports Ground route suspended 08:00–13:00 on 3 Oct for the marathon.
Getting home
Last shuttles left Byeokgolje around 22:00 (22:05 on some routes 3–5 Oct). KTX back to Seoul from Gimje is limited to one or two trains a day, so for an evening departure go to Iksan Station, which has frequent late KTX services.
Parking
4,360 free spaces in 2026; the three permanent lots at Byeokgolje (Jipyeongseon, Cheongryong, Baekryong) hold about 1,350 cars and fill early, so the city advises parking at Gimje City Hall (Jungang-ro 40) or the Civic Sports Ground (Dojak-ro 220) and riding the shuttle. Navigation address: Byeokgolje-ro 442.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | Free | Free in every recent edition; hands-on activities charged separately |
- Booking
- Most activities are walk-up. The wood-fired rice cooking and some cooking classes require advance registration on the Korean-language official site (festival.gimje.go.kr) and sold out early in 2026; no card or Korean phone is needed to attend otherwise.
- Foreign cards
- Not stated. Discounts are tied to the Gimje Sarang local card and Culture Nuri card, so carry cash for small stalls.
- English on site
- 2026 preparations included foreign-language signs, multilingual QR codes and interpretation support; the official site is Korean only. KTO's English listing gives the basics.
- Crowds
- Very crowded on the 3 October holiday weekend, especially before the Twin Dragon Play; weekdays (1–2 October in 2026) are quieter but have no Twin Dragon Play.
- Best time to go
- Weekend afternoons for the Twin Dragon Play (arrive 20–30 minutes early at the Central Plaza), then stay for the night show; weekday mornings for hands-on paddy activities with short queues.
- What to bring
- Sun hat and water (little shade on the embankment), closed shoes for the paddies, cash for stalls, and a mat for the lawn concerts.
- Step-free access
- Low-floor shuttle buses on two routes (12 trips a day) for wheelchair users and older visitors; nursing rooms on site; the embankment paths are unpaved in places.
- Pets
- A 'Horizon Pet Zone' was provided in 2024; later editions did not publish a pet policy.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Five days in the first half of October 2027, most likely 30 September–4 October or 7–11 October around the 3 October holiday. 2025 dates were announced on 10 February 2025 and the 2026 poster on 20 July 2026. | expected | 29th edition. No 2027 announcement as of 16 October 2026; the mayor said the festival will be developed further after reviewing 2026 feedback. |
| 2026 | 1–5 Oct 2026 | ended | Byeokgolje and the Gimje city centre; new zones in 2026: kids park, straw theme park, leisure world, 'planic zone' and world rice-food street. |
| 2025 | 8–12 Oct 2025 | ended | Held over the Chuseok holiday week. |
| 2024 | 2–6 Oct 2024 | ended | 26th edition, 56 programs, slogan 'Dream of the Horizon! Flying to the World'; same five free shuttle routes as 2026. |
Nearby
- Byeokgolje Agricultural Culture Museum (벽골제 농경문화박물관) — At the venue. Museum on rice farming and the reservoir's history, inside the Byeokgolje site.
- Arirang Literature Village (아리랑문학마을). Open-air set based on Jo Jung-rae's novel Arirang about colonial-era farmers; listed by the festival as a nearby site.
- Geumsansa Temple (금산사). Large Baekje-founded temple on Moaksan with the three-storey Mireukjeon hall (National Treasure).
- Jeonju Hanok Village (전주 한옥마을). The province's main tourist draw, with traditional houses and bibimbap restaurants.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Gimje Horizon Festival?
The 28th festival ran 1–5 October 2026 at Byeokgolje, 09:00–21:00. It is held for five days in early October each year; 2027 dates are expected to be announced around February.
Is the Gimje Horizon Festival free?
Admission is free. Hands-on activities such as the zipline and cooking sessions are charged separately, and food stalls sell items at roughly ₩4,000–10,000.
When is the Twin Dragon Play?
In 2026 only twice: 3 October around 17:00 and 4 October 16:00–17:00 at the Central Plaza. Weekday visitors miss it.
How do I get to Byeokgolje from Seoul?
KTX from Yongsan to Gimje Station (one or two direct trains a day) or to Iksan with a connection, then the free festival shuttle route 4 from Gimje Station to Byeokgolje; the site is about 10 km from the station.
Is there parking at the festival?
Yes, 4,360 free spaces in 2026, but the lots at Byeokgolje fill early; the city recommends parking at Gimje City Hall or the Civic Sports Ground and taking the free shuttle, which runs every 15–30 minutes.
What can children do there?
Harvest and thresh rice, catch grasshoppers, braid straw rope, play in a straw theme park and kids park, fly kites and watch the nightly laser-and-fireworks show. In 2026 there were 62 programs.
What is Byeokgolje?
The embankment of Korea's oldest known reservoir, thought to date from AD 330 and designated Historic Site No. 111 in 1963. Outside the festival the site charges ₩3,000 for adults and closes on Mondays.
What is the weather like at Gimje Horizon Festival in October?
October in Gimje: average high 22 °C (71 °F), low 10 °C (50 °F), 57 mm of rain (Jeonju station, about 30 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
16 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO VisitKorea — Gimje Horizon Festivalkto — 2026 period 1–5 Oct; venue and address; free admission with some fees; organizer committee and host Gimje-si; hours 09:00–21:00; food ₩4,000–10,000; honorary cultural tourism festival; phone +82-63-540-3172
- Gimje Horizon Festival official siteofficial — Program categories and names (Twin Dragon Play, nongak contest, tug-of-war, torch parade); advance registration button; site is Korean only (page served a past edition)
- MTN — 김제지평선축제, 무료 셔틀버스 운행…교통약자 편의도 강화 (22 Sep 2026)news — 2026 free shuttle: five routes, 14/20 buses, every 15–30 min, low-floor trips, holiday village bus, 3 Oct marathon suspension
- MTN — 김제지평선축제, 성공 개최 이상무 (28 Sep 2026)news — 62 programs; slogan; new zones; multilingual signs and interpretation; paddy activities
- Wikitree — 제28회 김제지평선축제 5일간의 여정 성황리 폐막 (6 Oct 2026)news — Festival ended 5 Oct 2026; programs including zipline, drone straw-ball stadium, world rice street; hearth rice cooking sold out; new final multimedia show; mayor's statement on future
- Wikitree — 제28회 김제지평선축제 공식 포스터 공개 (Jul 2026)news — 28th edition opens 1 Oct 2026; poster unveiled 20 July 2026; organizer Gimje City
- Travel Map Journey — 김제지평선축제 2026, 쌍룡놀이는 이틀뿐blog — Twin Dragon Play days and times; opening/closing concert times and artists; nongak contest hours; 4,360 parking spaces and lot addresses; last shuttle about 22:00; KTX Yongsan–Gimje twice daily; shuttle route 4 from Gimje Station; discount windows
- Jeonbuk Ilbo — 2025 festival programs (22 Sep 2025)news — 2025 dates 8–12 Oct; 63 programs; Ssarikong Game; nightly fireworks; discount windows
- Jeonbuk Ilbo — 10월 황금 연휴에 개막하는 제27회 김제지평선축제 (14 May 2025)news — 2025 dates 8–12 Oct and venue
- Jeonbuk Ilbo — 2024 festival transport (25 Sep 2024)news — 2024 dates 2–6 Oct; five shuttle routes; free lots Jipyeongseon, Cheongryong, Baekryong; village loop bus
- The Fact — 김제지평선축제 내달 2일 서막…5無 축제 (2024)news — 26th edition 2–6 Oct 2024; honorary cultural tourism festival; booth prices capped at ₩10,000; pet zone; cooking class; night programs
- News Seoul — 김제지평선축제 56개 프로그램 확정 (Aug 2024)news — 26th edition, 56 programs, 2–6 Oct 2024, slogan
- K-Trip Tips mirror of KTO data — 김제 벽골제kto — Venue coordinates 35.7546, 126.8531; Byeokgolje hours and admission (₩3,000/2,000/1,000, closed Mondays)
- Wikipedia (Korean) — 벽골제map — Reservoir built c. AD 330; Historic Site No. 111 (1963); location Buryang-myeon
- Wikipedia — Gimje stationmap — Gimje Station is on the Honam Line with KTX service; coordinates 35.7935, 126.9054
- Korail — 열차운임/시간표 (official timetable and fare downloads)official — Index of current Korail timetables: 1호선 weekday/holiday (from 1 Sep 2026), 경춘선 ITX-청춘 (from 1 Sep 2026), 수인분당선 (from 22 Aug 2026), 경강선 (from 23 Mar 2026), KTX (15 May 2026 and 1 Nov 2026 editions), 일반열차 (1 Sep 2026)
- Korail — KTX 시간표 (2026. 5. 15. 기준), xlsxofficial — Honam sheet: direct Yongsan→Gimje KTX 475 (09:44→12:04) and 481 (17:10→19:22), both via Seodaejeon; Yongsan→Iksan 30 trains, 67–130 min (most 77–85)
- Korail — KTX 시간표 (2026. 11. 1. 기준), xlsxofficial — From 1 Nov 2026: Yongsan→Gimje KTX 463 12:45→14:11 (via Osong, 1 h 26 m) and 459/491 17:10→19:21 (2 h 11 m); timetable lists 27 Suseo→Iksan departures versus 1 in the 15 May edition, consistent with the Korail–SR integrated operation from 1 Sep 2026
- Korail — 일반열차 시간표 (2026. 9. 1. 기준), xlsxofficial — Honam line Iksan→Gimje by Mugunghwa/ITX-Saemaeul/ITX-Maeum: 12–14 min, 18 trains 07:24–22:54
- Wikipedia — Osong stationmap — Branch station of the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines; Honam KTX neighbours Cheonan-Asan and Gongju; Daejeon only on the Gyeongbu side
- train.asamaru.net — 용산역→김제역 timetable (updated 16 Oct 2026)other — Context: only one KTX (491, 17:10) to Gimje on 16 Oct, none in the table from 19 Oct
- 전북일보 — 입석마을 줄다리기 (2016-02-23)news — Ipseok tug-of-war uses a thick rope made of rice straw (볏짚으로 만든 굵은 동아줄); no dimensions
What we could not confirm
- Prices of the paid activities (zipline, leisure world, crafts) in 2026 were not published in text form.
- Total 2026 attendance had not been published by 16 October 2026 (news reports say 'hundreds of thousands').
- Exact 2026 shuttle timetable, first departures and the full list of stops per route (only frequency and last return time were found).
- The official site served a page for the 25th edition, so 2026 program times come from a blog citing official schedule images and from news reports; the Twin Dragon Play time on 3 October is given as 16:00 or 17:00 by different official materials.
- First-held year 1999 is derived from the edition count (28th in 2026), not from a page stating it.
- Yongsan–Gimje KTX times (one direct train on some October 2026 days, two from 1 Nov 2026) come from a third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, not Korail's own search; the Busan route was not rechecked.
Changes: 2026-10-16 — Full fact-first rewrite: hours, prices, stations, 2024–2027 editions, FAQs and sources. · 2026-10-16 — Rechecked against timetables, fare tables and organizer notices: conflicting dates and transport details; conflicting figures and claims; ride times from Seoul. · 2026-10-18 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-20 — Tense: the 2026 edition has ended, so sentences about it are in the past tense.
_20241005_002.jpg?width=960)
