At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Late October 2027, probably a Saturday and Sunday: the last three editions fell on the fourth weekend of October (26–27 Oct 2024, 25–26 Oct 2025, 24–25 Oct 2026). 2027 dates not announced as of 18 October 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Late October 2027, probably a Saturday and Sunday: the last three editions fell on the fourth weekend of October (26–27 Oct 2024, 25–26 Oct 2025, 24–25 Oct 2026). 2027 dates not announced as of 18 October 2026. |
| Weather | October average 22/16 °C (71/60 °F), 95 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Jeju City station, about 15 km away. |
| Admission | Free (KTO). On race days the racecourse normally charges adults a small admission, with minors free alongside an adult and no charge on non-race days (parenting-info listing); whether this applies on the festival Saturday was not stated. The Saturday night run costs ₩10,000 per person.Festival entry: Free · Let's Run Park Jeju admission on race days, adult: ₩2,000 · 'Reckless Hero Run' night run entry: ₩10,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Let's Run Park Jeju (family park area)제주특별자치도 제주시 애월읍 평화로 2144 (렛츠런파크 제주) |
| Nearest station | No rail access; see Getting there |
| From Seoul | about 1 h 15 min · Flight + TaxiFlight time only · Leave from Gimpo Airport · Same-night return is tightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Korea Racing Authority Jeju Headquarters (hosts: Korea Racing Authority and Jeju Province)한국마사회 제주본부 (주최: 한국마사회·제주특별자치도) |
| Usual timing | Two days, Saturday and Sunday, on the fourth weekend of October: 26–27 Oct 2024, 25–26 Oct 2025 and 24–25 Oct 2026, always at Let's Run Park Jeju. Browse October festivals. |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026Checked against 20 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Horses have been raised on Jeju's upland pastures for centuries, and the island's small native breed, the Jeju horse (jejuma), is the subject of this festival. It is hosted by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) and Jeju Province and run by the KRA's Jeju headquarters in the family park area of Let's Run Park Jeju, the KRA's racecourse on the island. It has settled into a Saturday–Sunday slot on the fourth weekend of October: 26–27 October 2024 (the 19th edition), 25–26 October 2025 (the 20th) and 24–25 October 2026 (the 21st).
KTO's listing for 2026 describes 37 programmes in four themed areas: the Jeju Horse Heritage Lounge, Maltteuri Studio (maltteuri is the Jeju word for horse herders), Reckless Playpark and the Jerajin Picnic Market. There is an exhibition with docent tours and a documentary on the history of the Jeju horse and of Kim Man-il, the Joseon-era rancher honoured as a hunma gongsin for giving horses to the state. Children can feed ponies, ride and colour horse pictures; there is a riding simulator, an AI photo studio, dance and drawing contests, traditional games and a family race, plus picnic performances, food stalls and Jeju-made goods. A stamp rally and other linked events tie in with the weekend's grand-prix race at the track.
The park also honours Reckless, a Jeju-born horse remembered as a Korean War hero: a life-size statue, about 1.4 m at the shoulder, was unveiled during the 2024 festival, and the 2025 edition held a Reckless commemoration and an evening concert. In 2026 the evenings bring the 'Reckless Hero Run', a night run on the racecourse's sand track, on Saturday and the 'Reckless Concert' on an outdoor stage on Sunday, both from 18:00. Outside festival weekends the park runs children's riding, pony feeding and a pony-leading programme.
Honest caveats: programmes are in Korean, and the daytime programme for 2026 rests on KTO's listing (updated 14 October 2026), which gives two different closing times; the evening run and concert were announced on 20 October. Saturday is a race day at the park, and the racecourse normally charges adults a small admission on race days; whether that applies during the festival is not stated. No festival shuttle or bus stop at the gate was found, so plan on a taxi or car; the car park is large but busy at weekends.
Highlights
- Pony feeding, horse riding and horse-picture colouring with Jeju horses, the island's native breed (2026 programme)
- Exhibition, docent tours and a documentary on Jeju horse history and Kim Man-il, the Joseon-era rancher honoured as a hunma gongsin for giving horses to the state
- 37 programmes in four themed areas in 2026: Jeju Horse Heritage Lounge, Maltteuri Studio, Reckless Playpark and Jerajin Picnic Market
- Life-size statue of Reckless, the Jeju-born Korean War horse, unveiled at the park during the 2024 festival
- Riding simulator, AI photo studio, dance and drawing contests, traditional games and a family race
- Picnic performances, food stalls and Jeju-made goods, with a stamp rally linked to the weekend's grand-prix race
- Evening events from 18:00: the 'Reckless Hero Run' night run on the sand track on Saturday 24 October (₩10,000) and the 'Reckless Concert' on Sunday 25 October
Who it suits. Best for families with young children and horse lovers who are on Jeju on the fourth weekend of October and want a free, easy day out with ponies and hands-on activities; less suited to visitors without a car or taxi budget, or anyone who needs English-language programmes.
Getting there
From Seoul
Fly from Gimpo to Jeju International Airport: about 1 h 15 min on most flights, with dozens a day. Jeju has no trains. Let's Run Park Jeju is in Aewol-eup on Pyeonghwa-ro, the main road southwest across the island, and a taxi from the airport is the simplest way there. Express buses 151 and 151-1 leave from the airport's 1st-floor stop 4 and run along Pyeonghwa-ro, but no stop named for the racecourse appears among their first stops, so check a bus app before relying on them.
From Busan
Fly from Gimhae (Busan) to Jeju International Airport, then take a taxi as above.
From Incheon Airport
Transfer to Gimpo Airport on the AREX airport railroad for the frequent Gimpo–Jeju flights, then continue from Jeju International Airport by taxi.
Festival shuttle
No festival shuttle had been announced for 2026 by 18 October; KTO's listing mentions none.
Getting home
Jeju has no trains. The daytime programme closes at 17:00 or 18:00 (KTO gives both), and the evening run (Saturday) and concert (Sunday) start at 18:00. A same-day flight back to Seoul is possible, but Jeju–Gimpo times for Sunday 25 October, when a new flight schedule begins, were not checked; arrange a taxi back to the airport or Jeju City in advance.
Parking
Let's Run Park Jeju has a large car park of its own, but spaces can be hard to find at weekends. Festival parking arrangements for 2026 were not published.
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 entry | Free | Free per KTO |
| Let's Run Park Jeju admission on race days, adult | ₩2,000 | Usual racecourse charge per a parenting-info listing (minors free with an adult; free on non-race days); whether it applies during the festival was not stated |
| 'Reckless Hero Run' night run entry | ₩10,000 | Per person; finishers receive a gift worth about ₩50,000 |
- Booking
- Sign up for the Saturday night run (₩10,000, first come, first served) on the Runable running platform's website or app, and for the Sunday concert on the festival site (jejuma.festimap.kr), where on-site registration is also accepted. KTO's listing mentions no booking for the daytime programme; check the festival site for contest entries and session times, or call 1566-3333.
- English on site
- No English programme information was found, and KTO carries no English, Japanese or Chinese title for the festival.
- Crowds
- Moderate: about 30,000 visitors were expected in 2024 and 25,000–30,000 in 2025, over two days.
- Best time to go
- Arrive at the 10:00 opening for pony feeding and riding; Saturday 24 October for the Jeju Governor's Cup grand-prix race and the 18:00 night run, Sunday 25 October for the 18:00 Reckless Concert.
- What to bring
- A warm, windproof layer for a day outdoors in late October, comfortable shoes, and a card or cash for food stalls and the Jeju-goods market.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Late October 2027, probably a Saturday and Sunday: the last three editions fell on the fourth weekend of October (26–27 Oct 2024, 25–26 Oct 2025, 24–25 Oct 2026). 2027 dates not announced as of 18 October 2026. | expected | Would be the 22nd edition. |
| 2026 | 24–25 Oct 2026 | ended | Family park area of Let's Run Park Jeju, 2144 Pyeonghwa-ro, Aewol-eup. |
| 2025 | 25–26 Oct 2025 | ended | 20th edition. Hosted by the KRA and Jeju Province, run by the KRA Jeju headquarters; 25,000–30,000 visitors were expected. |
| 2024 | 26–27 Oct 2024 | ended | 19th edition; about 30,000 visitors were expected. |
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.
A volcanic cone in western Jeju, 519 m above sea level but only about 119 m above its car park, whose grassy slopes turn silver with flowering silver grass in October; you climb it for the view over the west coast to Biyangdo island. The steep west path takes about 20 minutes, the gentler east path about 30. Go in the morning before the 10:00 opening, or after the daytime programme for its sunset views if you skip the 18:00 evening events. Entry and parking are free.
Getting there: About 6 km further southwest on Pyeonghwa-ro: a short taxi ride, no shuttle. Express buses 151 and 151-1 call at a Saebyeol Oreum stop on their airport route
- Getting awayAfter
No festival shuttle was announced and no bus stop named for the racecourse was found, so after the 18:00 night run or concert, book a taxi back to the airport or Jeju City in advance rather than hoping to find one at the gate. Express buses 151 and 151-1 run along Pyeonghwa-ro, but check the nearest stop and the times in a bus app before relying on them.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Jeju Horse Festival 2026?
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2026, at Let's Run Park Jeju in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, from 10:00. KTO's listing gives the closing time as 17:00 in one field and 18:00 in its description, so check the festival site before planning a late visit. Evening events start at 18:00 on both days: a night run on Saturday and a concert on Sunday.
Is the Jeju Horse Festival free?
Yes, KTO lists the festival as free. The racecourse normally charges adults a small admission on race days (minors free with an adult), and it was not stated whether that applies on the festival Saturday. The Saturday night run costs ₩10,000 per person.
What can children do there?
In 2026: pony feeding, horse riding, colouring horse pictures, a riding simulator, an AI photo studio, dance and drawing contests, traditional games and a family race, plus a stamp rally, according to KTO's listing.
How do I get to Let's Run Park Jeju from Jeju Airport?
A taxi is simplest: the park is on Pyeonghwa-ro in Aewol-eup, southwest of Jeju City. Express buses 151 and 151-1 run along Pyeonghwa-ro from the airport's stop 4, but no stop named for the racecourse appears among their first stops, and no festival shuttle was announced for 2026.
What are the Jeju horse and Reckless?
The Jeju horse (jejuma) is the island's native breed, long raised on its upland pastures; the festival's exhibition covers its history and Kim Man-il, a Joseon-era rancher who gave horses to the state. Reckless was a Jeju-born horse remembered as a Korean War hero, and a life-size statue was unveiled at the park during the 2024 festival.
When is the 2027 festival?
Not announced as of 18 October 2026. The last three editions were on the fourth weekend of October (26–27 Oct 2024, 25–26 Oct 2025, 24–25 Oct 2026), so late October 2027 is likely.
What is the weather like at Jeju Horse Festival in October?
October in Jeju City: average high 22 °C (71 °F), low 16 °C (60 °F), 95 mm of rain (Jeju City station, about 15 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
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 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO TourAPI listing 제주마축제 (contentId 2621502)kto — 21st edition 24–25 Oct 2026; hours 10:00–17:00 (hours field) and 10:00–18:00 (overview); free; family park area of Let's Run Park Jeju, 평화로 2144, coordinates 33.4098/126.3931; hosts KRA and Jeju Province, run by KRA Jeju HQ; phone 1566-3333; homepage; 37 programmes (8/12/9/5/3); four themed areas and programme list; record modified 14 Oct 2026; no foreign-language titles
- 여기유 (yeogiyou) festival listing — 제주마축제 (republishes KTO data)other — 21st edition 24–25 Oct 2026 (Sat–Sun), free, hours given as both 10:00–18:00 and 10:00–17:00, address 평화로 2144, phone 1566-3333, four themed areas, 37 programmes
- Seoul Shinmun — 광어축제 갈까, 칠십리축제 갈까… 17~19일 제주 가을철 축제 절정 (6 Oct 2025)news — 20th edition 25–26 Oct 2025 at Let's Run Park Jeju; hosts KRA and Jeju Province, run by KRA Jeju HQ; 25,000–30,000 visitors expected; riding, sketching contest, flea market, tractor tour, track marathon, busking, random dance; Reckless commemoration; Reckless Concert 25 Oct 19:00 with Monday Kiz and Beenzino among the acts
- Seoul Shinmun — 한국전쟁 영웅 제주마 '레클리스' 동상, 26일 위용 드러낸다 (9 Oct 2024)news — 19th edition 26–27 Oct 2024; Reckless a Jeju horse and Korean War hero; life-size statue about 1.4 m legs to shoulder, made over six months, installed 7 Oct at Let's Run Park Jeju and unveiled 26 Oct during the festival; Governor's Cup grand prix, drone light show, concert with 위댐보이즈 and 포레스텔라, more than 60 booths; about 30,000 expected
- mom-mom.net — レッツランパーク済州 (Let's Run Park Jeju, parenting-info listing)other — Park open Wed–Sun 09:30–18:00, closed Mon–Tue; race-day admission adults ₩2,000, minors free with an adult, free on non-race days; large dedicated car park, hard to find a space at weekends; address ピョンファ路 2144
- iNews24 — Let's Run Park Jeju night racing (27 Jul 2026)news — KRA Jeju headquarters runs Let's Run Park Jeju; 2026 night racing 7 Aug–6 Sep on Fridays and Saturdays
- iNews24 — Let's Run Park Jeju children's horse programmes (9 Jul 2026)news — Children's riding arena, pony feeding and the Kkomamabu pony-leading programme at Let's Run Park Jeju
- Korea Airports Corporation — 김포국제공항 운항스케줄 (domestic, GMP→CJU departures)official — 124 scheduled Gimpo→Jeju departures 06:00–20:45 in the schedule running to 24 Oct 2026; block times 75 min (112), 80 min (9), 85 min (3)
- Kayak — Seoul Gimpo (GMP) to Jeju (CJU) flightsother — Direct flights about 1 h 15 min (average 1 h 16 min); weekly frequencies Jeju Air 155, Korean Air 142, Eastar 130
- Jeju route 151 stop list (third-party mirror of the MOLIT TAGO bus data feed, updated 2026-10-18)other — Route 151 calls at 제주국제공항4(대정,화순,일주서로), then 도청, 한라병원, 정존마을, 제주관광대학 and 새별오름 (fifth stop after the airport) toward Moseulpo
- Jeju route 151-1 stop list (third-party mirror of the MOLIT TAGO bus data feed, updated 2026-10-18)other — Route 151-1 also calls at 제주국제공항4 and 새별오름 (fifth stop after the airport)
- Jeju Shinhwa World — How to get hereother — Buses 151, 152 and 600 leave from the airport's 1st-floor stop in front of gate 4
- jeju.com — Jeju without a rental car (transit guide, January 2026)blog — Airport express gate table lists gate 6 for Pyeonghwa-ro (no route numbers given)
- trvlogue — Saebyeol Oreum Jeju (fall)blog — Under an hour's drive from Jeju International Airport; free parking; silver grass in autumn
- Cheonji Ilbo — 모래 경주로 달리고 가을밤 콘서트까지… 제21회 제주마축제 24~25일 개최 (20 Oct 2026)news — 21st edition 24–25 Oct 2026 at Let's Run Park Jeju; 24 Oct 18:00 Reckless Hero Run night run on the sand track (400 m family, 3.2 km competitive), ₩10,000, gift worth about ₩50,000, first-come sign-up on Runable; Reckless special race and Governor's Cup on 24 Oct; 25 Oct 18:00 Reckless Concert (Kim Tae-woo, Gyeongseo, Gavy NJ, Kim Yeon-dae), sign-up on the festival site or on site
- Kukje News — 제21회 제주마축제 10월 24~25일 개최 (20 Oct 2026)news — Same programme, times and fees as the Cheonji Ilbo report
- Media Jeju — 제주 대표 말 문화 축제 '제21회 제주마축제' 24일부터 (20 Oct 2026)news — 24–25 Oct 2026; night run 18:00 on 24 Oct (₩10,000); concert 18:00 on 25 Oct with registration on jejuma.festimap.kr and on site
- VisitJeju — Saebyeol Oreum Volcanic Cone (새별오름)municipal — Summit 519.3 m; about 20–30 minutes to the top, west path steeper than east; silver grass in autumn, especially October; view of the west coast and Biyangdo on clear days; public car park; open year-round; Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup
- VisitJeju — Jeju Road Trips: Six Fun Spots on the Pyeonghwa-romunicipal — Saebyeol Oreum on Pyeonghwa-ro: large car park, about 119 m climb (519 m above sea level), about 30 minutes up, best at sunset, silver grass in autumn
- Telltrip — 새별오름 가을 억새 (Saebyeol Oreum in autumn)blog — Steep west trail about 20 minutes, gentler east trail 30+ minutes; about 119 m climb; free entry and free parking; silver grass from early October
What we could not confirm
- Closing time of the daytime programme in 2026: KTO gives 10:00–17:00 in its hours field and 10:00–18:00 in its overview; news reports of 20 October give only the 18:00 starts of the night run and the concert. The festival site (jejuma.festimap.kr) was not reached.
- Whether the racecourse's race-day admission (₩2,000 for adults, from a parenting-info listing) is charged on Saturday 24 October, and the start times of the Reckless special race and the Jeju Governor's Cup grand-prix race.
- Whether the Sunday Reckless Concert is free, and how many places advance and on-site registration offer.
- Public transport to the gate: no stop named for the racecourse appears among the first stops of express 151/151-1; local routes and the walk from the nearest stop were not checked. The airport stop for Pyeonghwa-ro buses also differs between sources (stop 4 per Jeju Shinhwa World and earlier records; gate 6 in jeju.com's January 2026 table).
- Festival shuttle buses and parking arrangements for 2026.
- Which programmes (riding, contests, simulator) are paid or need sign-up, and any height or weight limits for pony riding.
- First year held: the 21st edition in 2026 would imply about 2006 if it ran every year, but whether any years (e.g. 2020–2021) were skipped was not checked.
- Japanese and Chinese names: KTO's foreign-language services carry no title for this festival.
- Gimpo–Jeju first and last departure times were removed from Getting there (the 124-departure count came from the schedule running to 24 October 2026); last flight back to Gimpo on 25 October under the schedule in force that day, and Jeju→Gimpo return times, not checked.
- English support, accessibility, rain policy and pet rules were not published.
- Saebyeol Oreum: the distance from Let's Run Park (about 6 km) is estimated from map coordinates; the taxi fare and whether express 151/151-1 call at the Saebyeol Oreum stop in both directions were not checked.
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: no changes found. · 2026-10-22 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: added the evening programme announced on 20 October (night run on the sand track at 18:00 on Saturday, ₩10,000; Reckless Concert at 18:00 on Sunday), Saturday's Governor's Cup race and how to sign up; dates and venue unchanged. · 2026-10-24 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: removed the first and last Gimpo–Jeju departure times (schedule ended 24 October) and added how to leave after the evening events; prices: the racecourse's race-day admission no longer quoted as an exact amount (not from the organizer's 2026 notice).
