At a glance
| Dates | 5–8 Nov 2026Upcoming · Theme 'RED하게 세상을 버무리다' (roughly 'mixing up the world, the red way'). Kimjang booking opened on 8 October 2026 at 10:00 on gimjang.kr, first come, first served: 1,001 teams in all (700 one-stop at 50 per session, 280 drive-through at 20 per session, 21 bulk at 3 per session). |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00–20:00 per KTO's 2026 listing. Kimjang sessions at 14:00 and 16:00 on 5 Nov and at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 on 6–8 Nov; bulk (100 kg or more) sessions at 14:00 on 5 Nov and at 10:00 and 14:00 on 6–8 Nov |
| Admission | Free entry to the grounds and stage shows; KTO lists some hands-on experiences at ₩5,000. Kimjang sessions are paid by set: ₩148,000 (general) or ₩170,000 (eco-friendly) for 20 kg of salted cabbage, ₩76,000 or ₩86,000 for 10 kg in 2026.Festival admission: Free · Kimjang set, general, 20 kg salted cabbage + 7.5 kg seasoning: ₩148,000 · Kimjang set, eco-friendly, 20 kg salted cabbage + 8 kg seasoning: ₩170,000 |
| Venue | Goesan Organic Expo Square and Goesan Stadium충청북도 괴산군 괴산읍 임꺽정로 92 |
| Nearest station | Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal (Goesan has no railway station) (괴산시외버스공용터미널), Intercity and express buses from Dong Seoul and Seoul Central City terminalsIn Goesan-eup, the same town as the festival grounds; the walking time to the Organic Expo Square is not published (the county puts Sanmagi Market, in the town centre, about 10 minutes on foot from the terminal) |
| From Seoul | about 1 h 54 min · BusLeave from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal · One-way fare from ₩14,700Full route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Goesan County, with the Goesan County Festival Committee괴산군 / 괴산군축제위원회 |
| Usual timing | Three or four days in the first half of November, running Thursday or Friday to Sunday: 3–5 Nov 2023, 1–3 Nov 2024, 6–9 Nov 2025 and 5–8 Nov 2026. Goesan County has announced the dates and booking details between late September and early October. Browse November festivals. |
| First held | 2019 |
| Last checked | 27 October 2026Checked against 40 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Kimjang is the late-autumn job of making a household's winter kimchi in one go, and Goesan, a farming county in the hills of Chungcheongbuk-do, has built a festival around it. Farmers in Goesan's Mungwang-myeon began selling pre-salted cabbage in 1996, the first in Korea to do so, and Goesan Sigol salted cabbage sold about a million 20 kg boxes in 2024. The festival, first held in 2019, turns that product into a hands-on event on the Organic Expo Square in front of the county office in Goesan-eup.
The core of the festival is booked in advance. In a one-stop session on the main stage you are given washed, salted Goesan cabbage and a batch of ready-made seasoning, work the seasoning into the leaves at a table, and leave with your own kimchi. In 2026 a 20 kg set costs ₩148,000 (₩170,000 with eco-friendly cabbage) and a 10 kg set ₩76,000 (₩86,000), the same as in 2025. The drive-through version, moved to Goesan Stadium in 2026, gives each car its own booth so the finished kimchi goes straight into the boot. Sessions start at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 (afternoon only on the first day), and in 2025 all 1,001 places were taken before the festival opened.
Around the kimjang tables the programme is free: a kimchi master's corner, a national kimjang contest and a contest between Goesan's own village masters, a market selling salted cabbage, chili and salted shrimp, a food street, a bonfire grilling zone, a new audience-participation outdoor play, and concerts each evening, with fireworks on 6 and 8 November. Each day in 2026 has a kimjang theme: foreign visitors on Thursday 5 November, people with disabilities on Friday, children on Saturday and teenagers on Sunday. The 2025 edition, the first to run four days, drew about 123,000 people.
Honest caveats: this is a working kimjang, not a tasting fair, so you leave with 10 or 20 kg of kimchi, which is heavy to carry on a bus and awkward to take on a plane. Booking is through the festival site gimjang.kr, and English support is not documented. The last buses to Seoul leave Goesan in the early evening, so the evening concerts and fireworks need an overnight stay or a car. If the festival sessions are full, 15 farms around the county run village kimjang sessions throughout November.
Highlights
- One-stop kimjang on the Organic Expo Square main stage: take pre-salted Goesan cabbage and seasoning, mix them at a table and carry the kimchi home (₩148,000 for 20 kg, ₩76,000 for 10 kg in 2026)
- Drive-through kimjang at individual booths in Goesan Stadium (new site in 2026): park beside the booth, make the kimchi and load it straight into the car
- Themed kimjang days in 2026: foreign visitors on 5 November, people with disabilities on 6 November, children on 7 November and teenagers on 8 November
- National Kimjang Contest on 7 November and a contest between the kimjang masters of Goesan's towns on 6 November
- Evening concerts on all four days, with fireworks on 6 and 8 November, plus a bonfire grilling zone and the K-RED food street
- K-Kimchi Market selling Goesan salted cabbage, cheonggyeol chili, garlic and salted shrimp (2025 line-up)
- Village kimjang sessions at 15 farms around Goesan throughout November, separate from the festival grounds
Who it suits. Best for travelers who want to make kimchi the way Korean families do each November, for food lovers and for families, especially those living in Korea who can take 10–20 kg of kimchi home; less suited to short-stay visitors without a kitchen or car, and to anyone who needs English-language instruction, which is not documented.
Getting there
From Seoul
Goesan has no railway station. Intercity buses run from Dong Seoul Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2) to Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal about 10 times a day, scheduled at 1 h 54 min, ₩14,700 for an adult. Seoul Central City Terminal (Express Bus Terminal Station) has about 15 buses a day to Goesan, also about 1 h 54 min and ₩14,700. Departure times for the festival dates were not verified; check them with the terminal before you travel. The festival grounds are on the Organic Expo Square in front of the county office in Goesan-eup, the same town as the terminal; walk or take a taxi. Driving: the Jungbu Inland Expressway to Goesan IC, then about 30 km (about 25 minutes) to town.
From Busan
No direct bus (Goesan's terminal lists no Busan route) and no railway. Express bus from Busan Central Bus Terminal (Nopo, Line 1 Nopo Station) to Cheongju Express Bus Terminal (temporary site, Gagyeong-dong); the Cheongju→Busan timetable shows 6 a day, 2 h 52 m, ₩31,500 deluxe or ₩40,900 premium. Change to Cheongju Intercity Bus Terminal (6 Pungsan-ro) for one of 6 daily buses to Goesan (1 h 20 m–1 h 39 m, ₩8,100; check times at the terminal), then walk or take a taxi as above. Or take the KTX to Seoul (about 2 h 30 m) and a bus from Seoul Central City as above.
Last leg from Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal (Goesan has no railway station)
Intercity and express buses from Dong Seoul and Seoul Central City terminals. In Goesan-eup, the same town as the festival grounds; the walking time to the Organic Expo Square is not published (the county puts Sanmagi Market, in the town centre, about 10 minutes on foot from the terminal)
Festival shuttle
No 2026 shuttle had been announced in the county notices and news read by 27 October 2026. A 2025 travel blog mentioned a shuttle from Goesan terminal, but the county never confirmed it, so do not count on one; the terminal and the festival grounds are in the same town. Drive-through participants need their own car.
Getting home
No trains serve Goesan. Last-bus times for the festival dates were not verified against the operators' timetables, so none are given here: check the last bus to Dong Seoul or Seoul Central City at Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal before the festival day. The last kimjang session starts at 16:00, so a day trip should be possible, but the evening concerts and the fireworks on 6 and 8 November need an overnight stay in Goesan or a car. Extra buses during the festival were not announced.
Parking
Drive-through participants park at their booth inside Goesan Stadium, which replaced the 2025 roadside site to ease traffic and parking. A 2025 travel blog put the festival car park at about 1,000 cars; no 2026 parking map was found.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Festival admission | Free | Free per KTO; some hands-on experiences cost ₩5,000 |
| Kimjang set, general, 20 kg salted cabbage + 7.5 kg seasoning | ₩148,000 | One-stop or drive-through session, booked in advance; unchanged from 2025 |
| Kimjang set, eco-friendly, 20 kg salted cabbage + 8 kg seasoning | ₩170,000 | |
| Kimjang set, general, 10 kg salted cabbage + 3.8 kg seasoning | ₩76,000 | |
| Kimjang set, eco-friendly, 10 kg salted cabbage + 4 kg seasoning | ₩86,000 | |
| Extra seasoning, general, per kg | ₩14,000 | |
| Extra seasoning, eco-friendly, per kg | ₩16,000 | |
| Goesan salted cabbage, 20 kg box to order | ₩45,000 | 2025 producer price (shipping extra); 2026 pre-order listings on the county's Goesan Jangteo mall show ₩45,000, one at ₩51,000 with free shipping; no 2026 price announcement found |
- Booking
- One-stop and drive-through kimjang sessions are booked on the official site gimjang.kr; booking opened on 8 October 2026 at 10:00, first come, first served, for 1,001 teams. In 2025 every place was taken before the festival, so check availability early. Whether a Korean phone number or card is needed and the cancellation rules are not stated in the sources; the festival phone line listed by KTO is 043-830-3463.
- English on site
- No English festival information was found. 5 November 2026 is the kimjang day for foreign visitors; in 2025 the foreigners' day drew over 200 multicultural families and international students, but whether sessions are taught in English is not stated.
- Crowds
- About 123,000 visitors over four days in 2025, and all 1,001 kimjang places were booked ahead; expect the biggest crowds on the Saturday and Sunday and at the evening concerts.
- Best time to go
- A 10:00 session on 6, 7 or 8 November, leaving the afternoon for the market and contests; 5 November has only 14:00 and 16:00 sessions and is the foreigners' kimjang day.
- What to bring
- A trolley or cool box for 10–20 kg of finished kimchi (containers and packaging were provided in 2025), clothes you do not mind marking with chili paste, a warm layer for November evenings, and some cash for market stalls.
- Step-free access
- 6 November 2026 is the kimjang day for people with disabilities; in 2025 that day offered wheelchair access and the WheelShare service. Drive-through kimjang lets participants work from beside their car.
2026 program
- Thu 5 Novkimjang day for foreign visitors; K-Concert in the evening
- Fri 6 Novkimjang day for people with disabilities; 'Our Neighbourhood Kimjang Master' contest between Goesan's towns; opening celebration concert (Byun Jin-sub, Kim Bum-ryong, Kim Da-hyun) and night fireworks
- Sat 7 Novchildren's kimjang day; National Kimjang Contest with teams from across Korea; comedy show and bonfire concert (Yurisangja)
- Sun 8 Novteenagers' kimjang day; closing concert and night fireworks
- 6–8 Novnew audience-participation outdoor play (madanggeuk)
- Dailyone-stop kimjang (Organic Expo Square main stage), drive-through kimjang (Goesan Stadium), the Master's Kimjang Room, K-Kimchi Market, the expanded K-RED food street and bonfire grilling zone
- 1–30 Novvillage kimjang experience at 15 farms around Goesan, separate from the festival grounds
Theme 'RED하게 세상을 버무리다' (roughly 'mixing up the world, the red way'). Kimjang booking opened on 8 October 2026 at 10:00 on gimjang.kr, first come, first served: 1,001 teams in all (700 one-stop at 50 per session, 280 drive-through at 20 per session, 21 bulk at 3 per session).
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Early November 2027, probably Thursday or Friday to Sunday: the festival ran 3–5 Nov 2023, 1–3 Nov 2024, 6–9 Nov 2025 and 5–8 Nov 2026. 2027 dates not announced as of 18 Oct 2026; the 2026 dates and kimjang booking details were published on 29 September 2026, with booking opening on 8 October. | expected | No 2027 announcement found as of 18 October 2026. |
| 2026 | 5–8 Nov 2026 | confirmed | One-stop kimjang on the main stage of Goesan Organic Expo Square; drive-through and bulk kimjang at individual booths in Goesan Stadium, moved from the road beside the Culture and Sports Center to ease traffic and parking. |
| 2025 | 6–9 Nov 2025 | ended | Goesan Organic Expo Square and the Goesan Culture and Sports Center area; drive-through booths on the road beside the Culture and Sports Center. |
| 2024 | 1–3 Nov 2024 | ended | Goesan Organic Expo Square area. |
| 2023 | 3–5 Nov 2023 | ended | About 32,700 visitors; about ₩354 million in market and kimjang-experience sales. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
Goesan's covered traditional market, open since 1970 with about 200 stores, where you buy the county's cheongyeol red peppers, chilli powder, vegetables and mountain produce. It is open 07:00–19:00 (shop hours vary), so it fits after a morning kimjang session or on the way back to the bus terminal. Sunday 8 November is a five-day market day (the 3rd and 8th of each month), when villagers also sell homemade soybean paste and pressed oil. Tip: bring some cash for the stalls.
Getting there: In central Goesan-eup, the same town as the grounds; about 10 minutes on foot from the bus terminal (county), or a short taxi ride
- Getting awayAfter
Without a car, the only way out is the intercity bus from Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal, in the same town as the grounds. The evening concerts and the fireworks on 6 and 8 November end too late for a same-day return by bus, and no extra festival buses were announced: check the last bus to Dong Seoul or Seoul Central City at the terminal when you arrive, or stay the night in Goesan.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Goesan Kimjang Festival 2026?
5–8 November 2026 (Thursday to Sunday) on the Organic Expo Square in Goesan-eup, 10:00–20:00 per KTO. Drive-through kimjang is at Goesan Stadium.
How much does the kimchi-making experience cost?
In 2026 a general set of 20 kg of salted cabbage with 7.5 kg of seasoning is ₩148,000, or ₩170,000 for the eco-friendly set (8 kg of seasoning). 10 kg sets are ₩76,000 and ₩86,000. Extra seasoning is ₩14,000 or ₩16,000 per kg. Prices are unchanged from 2025.
How do I book a kimjang session?
On the official site gimjang.kr. Booking opened on 8 October 2026 at 10:00, first come, first served: 700 one-stop places (50 per session), 280 drive-through places (20 per session) and 21 bulk places for 100 kg or more. Sessions run at 14:00 and 16:00 on 5 November and at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 on 6–8 November.
Is the festival free?
Entry, concerts and contests are free. The kimjang sessions are paid and booked in advance, and KTO lists some smaller hands-on experiences at ₩5,000.
What is the difference between one-stop and drive-through kimjang?
One-stop sessions are at tables on the Organic Expo Square main stage; you make the kimchi and carry it away. Drive-through sessions are at individual booths in Goesan Stadium, where you park beside the booth and load the kimchi straight into the car. Prices are the same set prices.
How do I get to Goesan from Seoul?
Take an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal (about 10 a day, about 1 h 54 min, ₩14,700) or Seoul Central City Terminal (about 15 a day). Last-bus times for the festival dates were not verified, so check the last bus back at Goesan terminal before the festival day.
Can foreign visitors join the kimjang?
Yes: 5 November 2026 is the festival's kimjang day for foreign visitors, and in 2025 over 200 multicultural families and international students took part on that day. Whether booking on gimjang.kr needs a Korean phone number, and whether instruction is in English, is not stated.
Can I just buy Goesan salted cabbage?
Yes. The festival's K-Kimchi Market sold salted cabbage, chili, garlic and salted shrimp in 2025, and the county's Goesan Jangteo online mall takes pre-orders: the 2025 producer price was ₩45,000 per 20 kg box plus shipping, and 2026 listings start at ₩45,000.
When is the 2027 festival?
Not announced. Recent editions ran 3–5 November 2023, 1–3 November 2024, 6–9 November 2025 and 5–8 November 2026, so early November 2027 is likely; the 2026 dates were announced at the end of September.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
27 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2026 edition. Confidence in the current facts: high.
- KTO tourist data (mirror) — 괴산김장축제 2026other — 2026 dates 5–8 Nov, address 임꺽정로 92, hours 10:00–20:00, free entry with some experiences ₩5,000, organizer 괴산군 / 괴산군축제위원회, phone 043-830-3463, homepage gimjang.kr, coordinates, program list; rechecked 19 Oct 2026: still 5–8 Nov, 10:00–20:00, free with some experiences ₩5,000
- Daejeon Ilbo 2026-09-29 — 2026 괴산김장축제 사전예약 8일 돌입news — Booking from 8 Oct 10:00 on gimjang.kr, 1,001 teams (700 one-stop at 50 per session, 280 drive-through at 20 per session, bulk 100 kg+ at 3 booths, 3 per session), session times, set prices ₩148,000/₩170,000/₩76,000/₩86,000 with 7.5/8/3.8/4 kg seasoning, extra seasoning ₩14,000/₩16,000 per kg, unchanged from last year, drive-through moved to Goesan Stadium
- Chungcheong Today 2026-09-29 — 괴산김장축제 980팀 모집…내달 8일 예약news — 2026 dates 5–8 Nov, one-stop at the Expo Square main stage, drive-through booths at Goesan Stadium, session times and set prices
- Newspim 2026-09-29 — 괴산김장축제 사전예약 내달 8일 시작news — 21 bulk teams, drive-through moved to Goesan Stadium to improve parking and reduce congestion, 2026 prices
- CBS Nocut News 2026-09-29 — 1001팀 선착순 모집news — 700 one-stop, 280 drive-through and 21 bulk teams; 2026 prices
- Chungcheong Domin Ilbo 2026-09-29 — 괴산김장축제 '김장하기' 10월 8일 사전예약news — Booking URL https://gimjang.kr/, 10:00 on 8 Oct, bulk sessions at 14:00 on 5 Nov and 10:00/14:00 on 6–8 Nov
- iNews24 2026-10-15 — 'RED하게 세상을 버무리다' 괴산김장축제 11월 5일 팡파르news — 2026 theme, venues, themed days 5–8 Nov, contests on 6 and 7 Nov, fireworks on 6 and 8 Nov, outdoor play 6–8 Nov, village kimjang at 15 farms in November
- Newstnt 2026-10-15 — 2026 괴산김장축제 11월 5일 개막news — Concert line-up by day (K-Concert 5 Nov; Byun Jin-sub, Kim Bum-ryong, Kim Da-hyun 6 Nov; Yurisangja 7 Nov; closing concert 8 Nov), village kimjang 1–30 Nov
- Daejeon Ilbo 2026-10-15 — 2026괴산김장축제, 더 붉고 풍성하게news — Four days 5–8 Nov, new madanggeuk Friday to Sunday, expanded K-RED food street and bonfire grilling, comedy show 7 Nov
- iNews24 2026-10-06 — 괴산군, 서울 강남서 '매운맛' 홍보news — County promoting the festival of 5–8 Nov 2026 and salted-cabbage pre-orders in Seoul
- Wikitree 2025-11-10 — 4일 만에 매출 12억 (2025 괴산김장축제 결산)news — 2025 extended from three to four days, theme, 123,000 visitors (+20%), ₩1.2 billion sales, 1,001 teams (791/210) closed early, drive-through 1.5x, themed days, wheelchair/WheelShare, 200+ foreign participants, contest with 12 teams and ₩3,000,000 prize, K-Kimchi Market items, containers provided, village kimjang 15 sites in 9 villages
- Seoul Shinmun 2026-01-19 — 연간 생활인구 352만명 도시 괴산news — 2025 dates 6–9 Nov, about 123,000 visitors, ₩1.202 billion sales, satisfaction 4.73/5, visitors and sales doubled on 2024
- Chungcheong Today via Daum 2025-10-17 — 괴산 시골절임배추, 올해는 얼마에 살까news — 2025 festival 6–9 Nov; 2025 salted cabbage price ₩45,000 per 20 kg, ₩40,000 for the previous three years
- Jungbu Maeil 2025-10-17 — 괴산시골절임배추, 20㎏ 4만5천원news — ₩45,000 per 20 kg box, shipping extra, a ₩5,000 rise; 1,002,000 boxes sold the previous year
- Chungcheong Times 2024-10-24 — 괴산 절임배추 가격 동결news — 2024 salted cabbage ₩40,000 per 20 kg box, shipping extra, frozen despite the cabbage shortage
- Goesan Jangteo (Goesan County online mall) — 김장 categorymunicipal — 2026 pre-order listings: 20 kg salted cabbage ₩45,000 (several farms), ₩51,000 with free shipping; 10 kg ₩27,000
- Jungbu Maeil 2024-10-08 — 2024 괴산김장축제, 11월 1일 개막news — 2024 dates 1–3 Nov, opening 18:30 with concert, drone show, fireworks and Kimjang Day proclamation, 700 teams (550/150), prices ₩137,000/₩72,000/₩160,000/₩83,000, ₩5,000 vouchers, Master's Kimjang Room, 7080 pocha zone, village kimjang at 11 farms
- Newspim 2024-10-08 — 괴산김장축제 내달 1~3일 개최news — 2024 dates 1–3 Nov, theme '김장 그리고 구워먹기', KBS National Singing Contest on day 2
- Newsis 2024-10-08 — 절임배추·청결고추의 고장 괴산서 '김장축제'news — 2024 team count 565 general and 150 eco-friendly; voucher per 10 kg; Jinji Museum exhibition
- Chungcheong Ilbo 2024-10-09 — 2024괴산김장축제 '김장 그리고 구워먹기'news — KBS National Singing Contest recording at 13:00 on 2 Nov at Goesan Stadium; walk-in kimjang
- Chungcheong Today 2024-10-08 — 맛·추억 다 잡은 괴산김장축제 온다news — 2024 dates, 700 teams (550 general, 150 eco-friendly), prices and vouchers
- News Seoul 2023-11-06 — 2023괴산김장축제 성료news — 2023 dates 3–5 Nov, 32,700 visitors, ₩354 million sales, 700 teams, 120 pre-registered for the master's session, 400 kg of shared kimchi
- Foodtoday 2023-11-01 — 괴산군, 지역 맞춤형 김치 표준 레시피 개발news — Festival held since 2019; county first in Korea to sell salted cabbage
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser (New York Times reprint) — Goesan kimjangnews — First festival in 2019, three days, 80,000 people; 2020 held socially distanced in the stadium
- Seoul Shinmun 2014-10-20 — 괴산 특산물 '절임배추'news — Goesan salted cabbage began in 1996 in Mungwang-myeon, the first in Korea
- Gamtan Yeohaeng (okithekey) — 2025 괴산김장축제 일정 및 가격blog — 2025: shuttle buses from Goesan terminal every 10 minutes, car park of about 1,000 cars, free admission and performances
- Dong Seoul → Goesan intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-12)other — 10 buses a day, 06:50–19:00, 1 h 54 min, adult ₩14,700
- Seoul Central City → Goesan bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-12)other — 15 buses a day, 06:45–20:30, 1 h 54 min, ₩14,700
- Goesan County (English) — Transportmunicipal — Dong Seoul to Goesan about 2 hours by bus; Goesan IC about 30 km and 25 minutes; county office at 90 Imkkeokjeong-ro; terminal phone 043-833-3355
- Goesan County (English) — Sanmagi Marketmunicipal — Over 200 stores, opened 1970, 07:00–19:00, five-day market on the 3rd/8th/13th/18th/23rd/28th, about 10 minutes on foot from Goesan bus terminal
- Goesan County (English) — Sanmagi-yetgilmunicipal — 5 km restored path, Chilseong-myeon address, driving times from Goesan (10 minutes to Chilseong office, 5 minutes on to the dam area)
- Goesan County (English) — Hwayang-Gugok Valleymunicipal — Valley in Cheongcheon-myeon with nine scenic spots named by Song Si-yeol
- Goesan County (English) — Sogeumlandmunicipal — Eco-education park in Mungwang-myeon on the former cabbage-salting brine site, salt museum, cabbage-salting experience, ginkgo street
- Goesan County (English) — Kim Simin's Chungminsamunicipal — Shrine in Goesan-eup to Kim Si-min (1554–1592) and Kim Jae-gap
- Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal departures (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — 19 destinations, none in Busan or Daegu; Goesan → Cheongju Intercity Bus Terminal 6 a day, 07:20–18:50, 1 h 22 m–1 h 26 m, ₩8,100; Seoul Central City 15 a day, 06:20–19:10; Dong Seoul 11 a day, 06:05–18:55
- transportation.asamaru.net — Busan Central Bus Terminal (Nopo) intercity page (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-07)other — Chungcheongbuk-do intercity destinations from Busan Central are Jecheon and Chungju only; no Goesan or Cheongju intercity route
- transportation.asamaru.net — Busan Central Bus Terminal (Nopo) express page (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-07)other — Express destinations from Busan Central include 청주고속버스터미널(임시) (Cheongju Express Bus Terminal, temporary) in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju
- Cheongju Express Bus Terminal (temporary) express departures (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-08)other — Cheongju → Busan Central: 6 buses a day, 07:00 (deluxe) to 19:40 (premium); 2 h 52 m; adult ₩31,500 deluxe (우등), ₩40,900 premium
- MCST regional festival listing — 괴산김장축제 2026ministry — 5–8 Nov 2026, 10:00–20:00, around Goesan Organic Expo Square with drive-through kimjang at Goesan Stadium; free entry, some experience programmes ₩5,000; organizer Goesan County, phone 043-830-3463, gimjang.kr; no transport or shuttle details
- KTO tourist data — 괴산장 / 괴산산막이시장 (3, 8일) (ktriptips mirror)kto — Market renamed Goesan Sanmagi Market in 2013; 8-8 Eupnae-ro 15-gil, Goesan-eup; 07:00–19:00, shop hours vary; five-day market on the 3rd and 8th; about 200 stores, covered arcade, opened 1970; cheongyeol red peppers, chilli powder, vegetables, mountain produce; villagers sell homemade soybean paste and pressed oil on market days; homepage given as the county site
What we could not confirm
- Whether 2026 kimjang places are still available as of 18 Oct 2026 (booking opened 8 Oct; all places went early in 2025); the official site gimjang.kr could not be opened.
- Whether foreign visitors can book on gimjang.kr without a Korean phone number or card, and the format, language and price of the 5 Nov foreigners' kimjang day.
- Cancellation and refund rules for 2026 kimjang bookings, and whether participants again get Goesan Sarang vouchers as in 2024.
- Concert and fireworks times for 2026; KTO lists festival hours of 10:00–20:00, and evening shows may run later.
- What the ₩5,000 hands-on experiences listed by KTO are.
- The official 2026 Goesan Sigol salted cabbage price (2025: ₩45,000 per 20 kg); Goesan Jangteo listings vary by farm.
- 2026 shuttle buses, parking map, and the walking time from Goesan bus terminal to the Organic Expo Square.
- Whether a 2021 or 2022 edition was held: only 2019, 2020 (socially distanced) and 2023 onward were documented.
- Japanese and Chinese names were not verified on a KTO or official page.
- Bus times are from a third-party mirror of the national timetable feed; the county's English page still says buses run every 10–20 minutes, which does not match the 10-a-day timetable, and festival extra buses were not announced.
- From Busan: Busan→Cheongju express bus departure times not yet confirmed (only the Cheongju→Busan timetable was read).
- Last bus back from Goesan to Dong Seoul and Seoul Central City on the festival dates, under the operators' timetables in force in November 2026 (only an October 2026 third-party copy was read).
- Kimjang set prices for 2026 (₩148,000 / ₩170,000 / ₩76,000 / ₩86,000) come from Goesan County's 29 Sep 2026 announcement as reported by several newspapers; gimjang.kr was not opened to confirm them.
Changes: 2026-10-18 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-18 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-18 — Added a route from Busan (Getting there), with times and fares from the national bus and rail timetables. · 2026-10-19 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: no changes found. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed unverified October 2026 bus clock times and added a reminder to check the last bus at Goesan terminal before the festival day. · 2026-10-27 — Transport check: no 2026 shuttle, bus or timetable notice found; dropped the 2025 blog's unconfirmed shuttle frequency. No clock times added (no source valid on the festival dates). · 2026-10-28 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit): kept Sanmagi Market, dropped four places that need a car; added how to get away by bus. Transport: no clock times in the text, none added. Prices: unchanged (free entry and ₩5,000 experiences now also cited from the culture ministry listing).
