At a glance
| Dates | 23 Oct – 8 Nov 2026Happening now · Described as the 23rd edition by Wikitree (8 Oct 2026). Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of visitors. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00–18:00 per KTO's listing; the NOL ticket page gives 09:00–18:00, with the ticket booth open 08:30–17:00 |
| Admission | Paid. At the gate (23 Oct–8 Nov 2026): adults ₩7,000, youth and soldiers ₩5,000, kindergarten children, children and seniors ₩3,000; the 10% advance discount ended on 22 October. Adults get a ₩2,000 festival coupon back (₩1,000 for youth and soldiers). Free for Hampyeong residents, children under 4, registered disabled visitors and national merit recipients.Adult, at the gate: ₩7,000 · Youth and soldiers, at the gate: ₩5,000 · Kindergarten, children and seniors, at the gate: ₩3,000 |
| Venue | Hampyeong Expo Park전라남도 함평군 함평읍 곤재로 27 |
| Nearest station | Hampyeong Station (Honam Line, Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains) (함평역), Korail Honam LineDistance to Expo Park not verified; plan on a taxi. The faster rail routes are KTX to Gwangju Songjeong or Naju, then onward by bus or taxi. |
| From Seoul | about 3 h · KTX + BusLeave from Yongsan Station · Same-night return is tightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Hampyeong County (run by the Hampyeong Festival & Tourism Foundation)함평군 (주관: 함평축제관광재단) |
| Usual timing | 17 days from a Friday in the second half of October to a Sunday in early November: 18 Oct–3 Nov 2024, 24 Oct–9 Nov 2025, 23 Oct–8 Nov 2026. Advance tickets go on sale about a month before opening (23 September in 2026). Browse October / November festivals. |
| First held | 2004 |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026Checked against 35 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Hampyeong is a small farming county about 30 minutes by bus from Gwangju. Its Expo Park, made famous by the 2008 Butterfly and Insect Expo, hosts the county's two big festivals: butterflies in spring and chrysanthemums in autumn. The chrysanthemum festival started in 2004 and now runs for 17 days from late October into early November, when the park fills with potted chrysanthemums trained into large sculptures, arches and towers, along with competition bonsai and beds of autumn flowers.
Each year has a theme. In 2024 it was a Christmas-style 'winter story' with a bell gate and a chrysanthemum Christmas tree; in 2025 a theme-park 'Magical Chrysanthemum Land' with 95 sculptures, among them a 12 m carousel and a Ferris wheel. The 2026 theme, 'Chrysanthemum Garden of Myths', brings sculptures called the Hill of Myths, the Talking Tree and the Water Goddess, theme roads with photo spots, and 366 premium chrysanthemum bonsai in five exhibition halls. The county's 2026 plan puts about 500,000 chrysanthemums around Expo Park and about 400,000 more along the Hampyeong Stream wetland, next to a 40,000 m² cosmos path.
Around the flowers there are concerts (an autumn concert with The Vocal and veteran singers, plus opening and closing shows), brass bands moving along the paths, a talent contest, and hands-on activities such as chrysanthemum crafts, chrysanthemum tea tasting, a chrysanthemum-goddess costume corner and banana picking. Festival zones also take in the park's permanent halls: subtropical agriculture, natural ecology, succulents, the Hampyeong Memory Workshop and the Golden Bat exhibition hall. Stalls sell local farm produce, fruit and potted chrysanthemums. The KBS National Singing Contest records a Hampyeong edition at the park's special stage on 3 November 2026.
Gate tickets cost ₩7,000 for adults, ₩5,000 for youth and soldiers and ₩3,000 for children and seniors; buying by 22 October 2026 saves 10%. Adults get a ₩2,000 festival coupon with the ticket (₩1,000 for youth and soldiers) that can be spent in any shop in Hampyeong County or on the festival grounds, so part of the fee comes back.
The honest caveats: Hampyeong is a long trip from Seoul, roughly three hours with a change in Gwangju; the grounds close at 18:00 and no 2026 night programme had been announced; no English-language programme was found; and the whole park is shut 17–22 October while the displays go in, so do not arrive before opening day.
Highlights
- Giant chrysanthemum sculptures on the 2026 myth theme (the Hill of Myths, the Talking Tree and the Water Goddess) with theme roads and photo spots
- 366 premium chrysanthemum bonsai in five exhibition halls, plus about 1,800 further display pieces (2026)
- About 500,000 chrysanthemums planted around Expo Park and about 400,000 along the Hampyeong Stream wetland, beside a 40,000 m² cosmos path (county 2026 plan)
- Gukhyang autumn concert with The Vocal (KCM, Ko Yu-jin, The One), Kim Ki-tae, Lee Yong and the Lee Young-ha Band; brass-band street parades and a Korean masters' music and dance show
- Hands-on corners: chrysanthemum-goddess costumes, banana picking, chrysanthemum crafts and tea tasting, the 'Gukhwaland' escape game and electric-cart rides at the wetland
- KBS National Singing Contest, Hampyeong edition, at the Expo Park special stage on 3 November 2026
- ₩2,000 festival coupon with every adult ticket, usable in shops across Hampyeong County
Who it suits. Best for families, photographers and older travellers who enjoy elaborate flower displays and an easy day of strolling on flat park paths; less suited to anyone after night-time events (the grounds close at 18:00), English-language programmes, or a short trip from Seoul, since Hampyeong is around three hours away each way.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Yongsan (or Suseo) to Gwangju Songjeong, about 2 hours (₩42,000 standard class from Yongsan after the September 2026 fare cut), then a bus to Hampyeong: Gwangju bus 500 to Hampyeong Public Bus Terminal takes 30 minutes to 1 hour, and Kumho Express intercity buses link Gwangju and Hampyeong about 19 times a day in about 30 minutes. Expo Park is at Gonjae-ro 27 in Hampyeong-eup, the county town; a taxi from the terminal is the simplest last leg. KTX also runs to Naju in about 2 hours. Slower options: direct Kumho Express buses from Seoul to Hampyeong (twice a day, about 4 h 30 m) or Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains from Yongsan to Hampyeong Station (about 4 h 10 m and 4 h 50 m).
From Busan
Intercity bus from Busan to Hampyeong, about 4 hours (county tourist map; departure terminal and frequency not stated).
Last leg from Hampyeong Station (Honam Line, Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains)
Korail Honam Line. Distance to Expo Park not verified; plan on a taxi. The faster rail routes are KTX to Gwangju Songjeong or Naju, then onward by bus or taxi.
Festival shuttle
No 2026 festival shuttle was published on the pages opened.
Getting home
The grounds close at 18:00. Direct buses from Hampyeong to Seoul run only twice a day, so most travellers return via Gwangju (30 minutes to 1 hour by bus), then take the KTX from Gwangju Songjeong to Yongsan or Suseo (about 2 hours) or one of the frequent express buses from Gwangju U-Square to Seoul Central City. Last-train and last-bus times for the festival dates were not verified, and a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026: before the festival day, check the last KTX in the Korail+ app (코레일+) or at the station and the last bus from Hampyeong to Gwangju at the terminal, and leave Hampyeong in the early evening.
Parking
The county said it would manage traffic and parking for the 2026 festival; at its pre-opening inspection it reviewed the parking plan and said traffic staff will guide cars at the site, especially at weekends and peak times. No car parks, capacity or fees were published on the pages opened.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, at the gate | ₩7,000 | On-site sales 23 Oct–8 Nov 2026; groups of 20 or more ₩6,000 |
| Youth and soldiers, at the gate | ₩5,000 | Groups of 20 or more ₩4,000 |
| Kindergarten, children and seniors, at the gate | ₩3,000 | Groups of 20 or more ₩2,000 |
| Adult, advance ticket | ₩6,300 | Sold 23 Sep–22 Oct 2026 on NOL and Naver or at the foundation office in Expo Park (10% off); youth and soldiers ₩4,500, children and seniors ₩2,700; groups ₩5,400 / ₩3,600 / ₩1,800 |
| Festival coupon returned with an adult ticket | ₩2,000 | ₩1,000 with a youth or soldier ticket; usable in all shops in Hampyeong County and on the festival grounds (NOL ticket page) |
| Free entry | Free | Hampyeong residents, children under 4, registered disabled people (plus one companion for severe disabilities) and national merit recipients |
| Sister-municipality residents | — | 50% discount per KTO's listing; Culture Nuri cards accepted |
- Booking
- Advance tickets are sold 23 Sep–22 Oct 2026 on NOL (Yanolja) and Naver, or at the Hampyeong Festival & Tourism Foundation office in Expo Park; from 23 Oct the gate price applies, and NOL keeps selling tickets online at that price. A ticket is valid for one entry on any day of the festival. NOL has an English listing on world.nol.com; on NOL, cancellation is free until midnight on the day of booking, a full refund less the booking fee applies within 7 days, and later cancellations cost 10%. Whether a Korean phone number is needed is not stated.
- English on site
- KTO lists the festival in English and NOL sells tickets through an English listing; no English-language programme or interpretation was found. The county assigns culture and tourism guides during the festival (2025 plan), languages not stated.
- Crowds
- Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of visitors over the 17 days in 2026, more than in previous years; the KBS National Singing Contest recording on 3 November will bring extra crowds to the special stage.
- Best time to go
- Morning, soon after opening, for quieter photo spots; allow time to reach Hampyeong from Seoul, since the gates close at 18:00.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for a full day on the park paths, and a plan for spending the festival coupon (shops in Hampyeong County or on the festival grounds).
- Step-free access
- A stroller and wheelchair rental point operates on site (KTO 2026 listing). Registered disabled visitors enter free, with one companion for severe disabilities.
2026 program
- Daily 23 Oct–8 Novgiant chrysanthemum sculptures on the 'Chrysanthemum Garden of Myths' theme (Hill of Myths, Talking Tree, Water Goddess) and theme photo roads
- Exhibition hallspremium chrysanthemum bonsai (366 pieces in five halls), the chrysanthemum club's bonsai hall, subtropical agriculture, natural ecology, succulents, the Hampyeong Memory Workshop and the Golden Bat hall
- Concerts (dates and times not published on the pages opened): opening ceremony with singers Seong-ri and Kim Jung-woo; Gukhyang autumn concert with The Vocal (KCM, Ko Yu-jin, The One), Kim Ki-tae, Lee Yong and the Lee Young-ha Band; closing ceremony with Na Tae-joo
- Throughout the runbrass-band street parades and a Korean masters' music and dance show; the 2nd 'Find the Kki-star' talent contest
- Hands-onchrysanthemum-goddess and princess costumes, banana picking, chrysanthemum crafts and tea tasting, the 'Gukhwaland' escape game, 'Gukhwa DAY in Hampyeong' and electric-cart rides at the wetland station
- 3 NovKBS National Singing Contest (Jeonguk Norae Jarang), Hampyeong edition, at the Expo Park special stage (the former drive-in theatre)
- Stallslocal farm products, crafts, food market, fruit promotion hall, chrysanthemum bonsai and plant sales, and a pop-up store for the county mascots
Described as the 23rd edition by Wikitree (8 Oct 2026). Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | About 17 days from a Friday in the second half of October to a Sunday in early November 2027, if the 2024–2026 pattern holds (18 Oct–3 Nov 2024, 24 Oct–9 Nov 2025, 23 Oct–8 Nov 2026); nothing announced as of 18 October 2026. In 2026 advance tickets went on sale on 23 September and the programme was published in mid-October. | expected | The county set the 2025 window ('late October to November, 17 days') in its early-year work plan, so a first indication of the 2027 dates may appear in the county's 2027 work plan. |
| 2026 | 23 Oct – 8 Nov 2026 | confirmed | Hampyeong Expo Park and the Ecological Wetland Park along the Hampyeong Stream. The whole area is closed 17–22 October and 9–11 November 2026 for installation and removal of the displays. |
| 2025 | 24 Oct – 9 Nov 2025 | ended | The festival won the festival-tourism grand prize at the 14th Korea Festival Content Awards (its third in a row since 2023) and was graded 'excellent' among Jeollanam-do's representative festivals for 2026. Displays used 23 chrysanthemum varieties bred by the county's agricultural centre. No visitor total found. |
| 2024 | 18 Oct – 3 Nov 2024 | ended | Hampyeong Expo Park and the Hampyeong-eup town centre |
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.
- Hampyeong County Museum of Art (함평군립미술관)Before or after
The county's art museum in the middle of Expo Park, in a building shaped like butterfly wings, with three galleries of donated works; until 8 November it shows 'Gaze' (시선), an exhibition of modern and contemporary Korean masterpieces. During the festival, entry is included in the festival ticket. It opens 10:00–18:00 in October and 10:00–17:00 in November and closes on Mondays (26 October and 2 November). Tip: allow about 30 minutes, plus the garden of collected stones outside.
Getting there: Inside Expo Park, about 155 m from the festival grounds on foot; included in festival admission
- Hampyeong raw-beef bibimbap street (함평 생고기비빔밥 거리)After
Restaurants around the Hampyeong-eup market serving the county's signature yukhoe bibimbap: rice and over ten vegetables topped with raw lean beef from the local cattle market, dressed with sesame oil and a chili, garlic and salted-shrimp seasoning instead of gochujang, served with ox-blood soup. Go when the gates close at 18:00: Hwarang Sikdang, one of them, is open daily 10:00–19:00 (last order 18:55). Tip: the street is near Hampyeong Bus Terminal, where you catch the bus back to Gwangju.
Getting there: Taxi about 3 minutes from Expo Park (2022 news report) to the market in Hampyeong-eup, near the bus terminal
Questions travelers ask
When is the Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival 2026?
23 October to 8 November 2026 (17 days) at Hampyeong Expo Park, 10:00–18:00 per KTO's listing (the NOL ticket page gives 09:00–18:00). The theme is 'Chrysanthemum Garden of Myths'.
How much are tickets?
At the gate: adults ₩7,000, youth and soldiers ₩5,000, kindergarten children, children and seniors ₩3,000; groups of 20 or more pay less. Advance tickets, 10% cheaper (adults ₩6,300), were sold until 22 October 2026; NOL still sells tickets online at the gate price.
How does the festival coupon work?
Each adult ticket comes with a ₩2,000 festival coupon (₩1,000 for youth and soldiers). You can spend it in any shop in Hampyeong County or on the festival grounds, so it works as a partial refund of the ticket.
Who gets in free?
Hampyeong residents, children under 4, registered disabled people (plus one companion for severe disabilities) and national merit recipients, per KTO's 2026 listing.
How do I get to Hampyeong from Seoul?
KTX from Yongsan or Suseo to Gwangju Songjeong (about 2 hours, ₩42,000 from Yongsan), then bus 500 or an intercity bus to Hampyeong (30 minutes to 1 hour). Direct buses from Seoul take about 4 h 30 m and run only twice a day.
Can I visit Expo Park the week before the festival?
No. The whole festival area is closed 17–22 October 2026 while the displays are installed, and again 9–11 November for removal.
When is the 2027 festival?
Not announced yet. It ran 18 Oct–3 Nov 2024, 24 Oct–9 Nov 2025 and 23 Oct–8 Nov 2026, so expect 17 days from late October to early November 2027.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
22 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: medium.
- KTO tourist data — 대한민국 국향대전 (ktriptips mirror, updated 16 Oct 2026)kto — 2026 dates 23 Oct–8 Nov, 10:00–18:00, theme, address 곤재로 27, coordinates 35.0562/126.5199, host 함평군, run by 함평축제관광재단, phone 061-320-2247, programme list, advance 6,300/4,500/2,700 (groups 5,400/3,600/1,800), on-site 7,000/5,000/3,000 (groups 6,000/4,000/2,000), free for under 4 and others, 50% for sister municipalities, Culture Nuri card, stroller and wheelchair rental
- KTO tourist data (English) — Grand Chrysanthemum Festival (ktriptips mirror)kto — English name 'Grand Chrysanthemum Festival', festival started in autumn 2004, 2026 dates and hours 10:00–18:00, host Hampyeong-gun, phone +82-61-320-2247, nearby Dolmeori Beach (7,864 m) and Hampyeong Haesujjim (7,056 m)
- KTO tourist data (Japanese) — 大韓民国菊香大展 (ktriptips mirror)kto — Japanese name 大韓民国菊香大展; 咸平 written ハンピョン; 2026 dates, 10:00–18:00, advance ₩6,300 and on-site ₩7,000 adult prices
- KTO tourist data (Traditional Chinese) — 咸平蝴蝶節 (ktriptips mirror)kto — KTO's Traditional Chinese forms 咸平郡 and 咸平EXPO公園 for Hampyeong and Expo Park (same venue and address)
- Hampyeong County — Chinese-language tourist map (PDF, undated)municipal — Name 大韩民国菊香大典 (held each October); Expo Park and the 2008 Butterfly and Insect Expo; Kumho Express Seoul↔Hampyeong 2 runs, about 4 h 30 m; Gwangju↔Hampyeong 19 runs, about 30 min; bus 500 Gwangju↔Hampyeong 30 min–1 h; KTX to Naju about 2 h; Saemaeul 3 a day about 4 h 10 m, Mugunghwa 2 a day about 4 h 50 m; Busan about 4 h; 6 km Cheonji-ro trail; County Museum of Art
- Hampyeong County — English tourism sitemunicipal — County's English name 'Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival'
- Hampyeong County — 2026 main work plan (PDF)municipal — 2026 festival landscaping: about 500,000 chrysanthemums at Expo Park; about 400,000 chrysanthemums over 64,000 m² at the Ecological Wetland and Hampyeong Stream park; 40,000 m² cosmos path
- Hampyeong County — 2025 main work plan (PDF)municipal — 2025 festival planned for late October to November, 17 days; ₩1,158 million grant to the Hampyeong Festival & Tourism Foundation; culture and tourism guides assigned during the festival; Expo Park plant halls
- NOL (Yanolja) — 2026 함평 대한민국 국향대전 ticket pageother — 2026 dates 23 Oct–8 Nov, hours 09:00–18:00, ticket booth 08:30–17:00, advance sales 23 Sep 10:00–22 Oct, one entry valid any festival day, festival coupons ₩2,000 adults / ₩1,000 youth and soldiers usable in all Hampyeong-gun shops and on the grounds, cancellation rules (free until midnight, full refund less fee within 7 days, 10% fee after), English listing on world.nol.com
- NOL (Yanolja) — 2026 함평 대한민국 국향대전 product page (re-read on recheck)other — 2026 dates 23 Oct–8 Nov; hours 09:00–18:00, ticket booth 08:30–17:00; advance discount 23 Sep–22 Oct; from 23 Oct still bookable on NOL at the on-site price; one entry per ticket; coupons ₩2,000 adults and ₩1,000 youth and soldiers; no change or cancellation notice
- Wikitree, 23 Sep 2026 — 함평 국향대전 입장권 사전예매…10% 할인news — Advance sale 23 Sep–22 Oct on NOL and Naver and at the foundation office in Expo Park, 10% discount, advance prices 6,300/4,500/2,700 and group 5,400/3,600/1,800, 17-day festival from 23 Oct
- Wikitree, 28 Sep 2026 — 함평 국화축제, 가을 동화로 물든다news — Theme 신화의 국화동산, 17 days 23 Oct–8 Nov, exhibition halls (club bonsai, premium bonsai, subtropical agriculture, natural ecology, succulents, Memory Workshop, Golden Bat), invited singers, brass bands, Kki-star contest, Gukhwaland escape game
- Wikitree, 8 Oct 2026 — 함평군, 가을 대축제 앞두고 철통 안전망 구축 나섰다news — 23rd edition, Expo Park and Ecological Wetland Park, safety inspection 22 Oct, KBS National Singing Contest Hampyeong edition on 3 Nov at the special stage (former drive-in theatre), traffic and parking management, more visitors than previous years expected
- Wikitree, 14 Oct 2026 — 가을빛 물든 함평, 신화 속 국화 정원으로 초대news — Sculptures 신화의 언덕, 말하는 나무, 물의 여신; 366 premium bonsai in 5 halls; about 1,800 display pieces; opening, autumn concert (The Vocal: KCM, 고유진, 더원; 김기태, 이용, 이영하밴드) and closing performers; hands-on list incl. banana picking and tea tasting; full closure 17–22 Oct and 9–11 Nov; hundreds of thousands expected
- Wikitree, 23 Oct 2025 — 2025 대한민국 국향대전 '마법의 국향랜드'로 24일 개막news — 2025 dates 24 Oct–9 Nov, theme, 95 sculptures, carousel 12 m × 10 m, Ferris wheel 4 m × 4 m, 286 bonsai, night lighting linked to the Winter Light Festival
- Money Today, 3 Nov 2025 — 총천연색 '국향'에 취해 마법 속으로news — 2025 programmes (bubble show, quiet contest, edible chrysanthemum picking, talk concert, butterfly hall), about 1,000 large-bloom chrysanthemums of 20+ varieties, about 600 autumn plants, part of the admission issued as a festival coupon, festival began in 2004
- Metro Seoul, 24 Oct 2025 — 2025 국향대전 개막news — 2025 opening ceremony 24 Oct, 17 days to 9 Nov, carousel and Ferris wheel sculptures, daytime concert and Kki-star contest
- fanmaum community post, 17 Oct 2025 — 2025 국향대전blog — 2025 adult admission ₩7,000 including a coupon for use on the festival grounds
- twig24, 14 Jan 2026 — 함평 국향대전, 축제 콘텐츠 대상 이어 전남 우수축제 선정news — 14th Korea Festival Content Awards festival-tourism grand prize (third in a row since 2023); Jeollanam-do representative festival 'excellent' grade announced 8 Jan 2026; 23 county-bred varieties in 2025
- Seoul Shinmun, 20 Oct 2024 — '2024 대한민국 함평 국향대전' 11월 3일까지 열려news — 2024 opened 18 Oct and ran to 3 Nov; theme, bell gate, Christmas-tree sculpture, nine-tier tower, 115 works, six halls, free wetland programmes, Lam Dong coffee-tree planting
- Jeonnam Ilbo print edition, 15 Oct 2024 (PDF)news — 2024 dates 18 Oct–3 Nov at Expo Park and the Hampyeong-eup town centre; traditional wedding costume booth ₩2,000 with proceeds to UNICEF
- yeogiyou — 대한민국 국향대전other — Nearby distances: Dolmeori Beach 8 km (Hampyeong-eup), Hampyeong Haesujjim 8 km (Sonbul-myeon); address at the Expo Park theme video hall
- Hankyung: 9월 1일부터 서울~부산 KTX 5만4400원…운임 평균 10% 인하 (31 Aug 2026)news — KTX and SRT run as KTX from 1 Sep; former SRT trainsets renamed KTX-Sancheon; Seoul–Busan ₩59,800→₩54,400, Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong ₩46,800→₩42,000; Suseo seats +30%; booking unified in Korail+
- Korail press release: 코레일-에스알 9월 1일 하나로…안전 최우선, 더 편리한 고속철도의 시작 (31 Aug 2026)official — Integration and integrated running from 1 Sep 2026; KTX and SRT merged into KTX; average KTX fare cut about 10%; Suseo-axis seats up about 30%; 5% mileage; Korail+ app (Korail Talk + SRT app) launched 3 Aug
- Gwangju Songjeong → Yongsan train timetable, 16–19 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last departure 21:22 KTX-Sancheon 442, arriving 23:26 (about 2 hours)
- Gwangju Songjeong → Suseo train timetable, 16–19 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last departures 21:53 (arr 23:51) and 23:03 KTX-Sancheon 636 (arr 00:54), every day shown
- Gwangju U-Square → Seoul Central City express bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-07)other — 92 buses a day; late departures 21:15, 22:00, 22:30, 23:20 and 00:00
- 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)
- Wikitree, 18 Oct 2026 — 함평 국향대전, 개막 전 현장 안전 점검news — Opens 23 Oct at Expo Park, theme 신화의 국화동산; pre-opening inspection of displays, traffic, safety and facilities; parking plan reviewed; traffic guidance staff on site, especially at weekends and peak times
- KTO tourist data — 함평군립미술관 (ktriptips mirror)kto — County art museum inside Expo Park, Gonjae-ro 37; butterfly-wing building; three galleries of donated works; 10:00–18:00 Mar–Oct, 10:00–17:00 Nov–Feb; closed Mondays, 1 Jan, Seollal, Chuseok; free; about 30 minutes; stone garden outside; about 155 m from the 국향대전
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — 2026 한국근현대미술명작전 <시선> (Hampyeong County Museum of Art)ministry — Exhibition 'Gaze' 1 Sep–8 Nov 2026; hours Mar–Oct 10:00–18:00, Nov–Feb 10:00–17:00, closed Mondays; free, included in Expo Park admission during festivals
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — festival listing: 대한민국 국향대전 2026ministry — 2026 dates 23 Oct–8 Nov; 09:00–18:00; Expo Park area; paid (no amounts); host and organizer Hampyeong County; homepage hpftf.or.kr; 061-320-2247; no shuttle mentioned
- KTO tourist data — 화랑식당 (ktriptips mirror)kto — Hwarang Sikdang, Sijang-gil 96, Hampyeong-eup: yukhoe bibimbap; 10:00–19:00, last order 18:55; open daily; near Hampyeong Terminal and Hampyeong Cheonji Market (Hampyeong market 45 m)
- Jeonbuk Ilbo (jjan.kr) — 함평 생고기비빔밥 (3 Nov 2022)news — Raw-beef bibimbap grew out of the Hampyeong cattle market; restaurants of two or three generations clustered around the market square in Hampyeong-eup; lean beef, 10+ vegetables, sesame oil, chili-garlic-salted-shrimp seasoning instead of gochujang, served with ox-blood soup; KTO food theme street in 2014; Expo Park 3 minutes by car
- Maeil Shinmun — 함평 생고기비빔밥 (2 Nov 2022)news — Same: restaurants around the market; same-day beef from the dawn cattle market; Expo Park 3 minutes by car from the bibimbap street
What we could not confirm
- The official festival site (hpftf.or.kr) and the county's English tourism subpages could not be opened, so hours, shuttle, parking and the full programme schedule were not read from the organizer.
- Opening time conflicts: KTO lists 10:00–18:00, while the NOL ticket page and the culture ministry listing (re-read 23 Oct 2026) give 09:00–18:00 (NOL: ticket booth 08:30–17:00).
- Dates and times of the 2026 opening ceremony, autumn concert and closing ceremony were not published on the pages opened.
- Festival coupon details not published: whether it is paper or mobile, its expiry, how online buyers receive it, and whether 2025 amounts were the same.
- Transport figures (bus 500, Kumho Express runs, KTX to Naju, slow trains to Hampyeong Station) come from the county's undated Chinese-language map, which predates the September 2026 KTX–SRT merger; current timetables, departure points in Gwangju and Seoul, fares and the last bus from Hampyeong to Gwangju were not verified.
- Distances from Hampyeong Public Bus Terminal and Hampyeong Station to Expo Park were not verified.
- No 2026 shuttle or car-park information was published on the pages opened.
- Edition numbering: Wikitree calls 2026 the 23rd edition (first held 2004); a Stars and Stripes Korea article says one COVID-era edition was cancelled, but its date and the year affected were not confirmed.
- Traditional Chinese name not found (zhHant left null). The county's Chinese map writes 大韩民国菊香大典, while KTO's Japanese listing uses 大韓民国菊香大展.
- English name differs by source: KTO uses 'Grand Chrysanthemum Festival', the county's English site 'Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival'.
- KTO pages now label the province 전남광주통합특별시 (Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city); the record keeps Jeollanam-do pending confirmation of the administrative change.
- Last train back from Gwangju Songjeong to Yongsan or Suseo, and the last bus from Hampyeong to Gwangju, on the festival dates under the timetable in force that day (October 2026 timetable to 31 Oct, the KTX timetable of 1 Nov 2026 from 1 Nov); the October times came only from a third-party mirror and were removed.
- 2026 ticket prices come from KTO, NOL and news of the county's announcement; the organizer's own notice on hpftf.or.kr was not opened.
- Before or after the festival: walking and taxi times from Expo Park to the raw-beef bibimbap street and Hampyeong Bus Terminal were not checked (a 2022 news report gives 3 minutes by car); restaurant hours other than Hwarang Sikdang's were not checked.
- Whether Hampyeong County Museum of Art opens on the festival's Mondays (26 Oct, 2 Nov): its KTO and ministry listings say it closes every Monday.
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. · 2026-10-19 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: dates, hours and prices unchanged; noted that NOL still sells tickets at the gate price from 23 October. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed the October 2026 last-train and last-bus clock times, which could not be checked against the timetable in force on the festival dates, and added a reminder to check the last KTX and bus before travelling. · 2026-10-22 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: no changes to dates, hours or prices found; added the county's on-site traffic guidance plan. · 2026-10-23 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: no train, bus or shuttle clock times in the text, so nothing to verify or remove (last train and last bus still to be checked in Korail+ and at the terminal); prices: 2026 gate prices kept, the advance-ticket discount now marked as ended on 22 October.
