At a glance
| Dates | 31 Oct – 8 Nov 2026Happening now · 26th edition, theme '국화, 가을 바다를 품다' (Chrysanthemums, embracing the autumn sea). The city expects about 900,000 visitors. Booths must show prices, origin, portion sizes and payment methods, and one overcharging offence removes a booth. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00–22:00 daily (KTO listing); one travel article gives 09:00–21:00 |
| Admission | Free entry to all three zones. The optional Chrysanthemum Pass (₩12,900, mobile, 24 hours) gives discounts; the Dotseom ferry (₩12,000 adult return) is paid separately.Entry: Free · Chrysanthemum Pass (mobile, 24 hours): ₩12,900 · Dotseom ferry, adult return: ₩12,000 |
| Venue | 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park and Hapo Waterfront Park, Masan Port경상남도 창원시 마산합포구 월남동1가 46-3 |
| Nearest station | Masan Station (마산역), Korail Gyeongjeon Line (KTX)Too far to walk comfortably; the free festival shuttle starts here and loops via Odong-dong Culture Plaza and Hapo Waterfront Park to 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park |
| From Seoul | about 3 h · KTX + BusLeave from Seoul Station · One-way fare from ₩48,300 · Same-night return is tightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Changwon Special City (host); Masan Chrysanthemum Festival Committee (organizer)창원특례시 (주최) · 마산국화축제위원회 (주관) |
| Usual timing | Nine or ten days from a Saturday in late October or the first days of November, timed to the chrysanthemum bloom: 28 Oct–6 Nov 2023, 26 Oct–3 Nov 2024, 1–9 Nov 2025, 31 Oct–8 Nov 2026. Held every year since 2000; in 2020 it ran as a drive-through because of COVID-19. Browse October / November festivals. |
| First held | 2000 |
| Last checked | 29 October 2026Checked against 39 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Masan, now part of Changwon on the south coast of Gyeongsangnam-do, is where commercial chrysanthemum growing in Korea began: six farms in Hoewon-dong started in 1961, and in 1972 Masan sent the country's first chrysanthemum exports to Japan. The festival, held since 2000, is the showcase for that industry and the city's main autumn event, timed for late October and early November when the flowers peak.
The displays line the Masan Port waterfront. In 2026 the main grounds at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park hold eight themed exhibitions built from about 100,000 chrysanthemum plants: large flower sculptures, arches and photo sets, plus a chrysanthemum bonsai show. Hapo Waterfront Park, next to Masan Fish Market, is the stage and food zone, and a new third zone at Masan Haeyang New Town, the reclaimed island across the inner harbour, adds a food court with chefs from a tvN cooking show, an outdoor cinema every evening from 17:00 to 21:00, a wedding photo zone and AI booths. The evening highlights are the multimedia fireworks on opening day, Saturday 31 October, and a new sea nakhwa (falling-fire) show on the water at 19:00 on Wednesday 4 November. A citizens' chrysanthemum costume contest is also new.
Entry is free. An optional mobile Chrysanthemum Pass (₩12,900, valid 24 hours) gives discounts at festival booths and partner shops. The city counted about 867,000 visitors in 2025 and expects about 900,000 in 2026; parking has grown to 5,500 spaces, but the easier way in is the free shuttle loop from Masan Station.
The name has a history. 'Gagopa' ('I long to go') is linked to the poet Lee Eun-sang (1903–1982), whom civic groups criticise for supporting past military governments, so from 2019 to 2023 the event was simply the Masan Chrysanthemum Festival; the city council restored the longer name from the 2024 edition.
Honest caveats: no English-language program information was found; the displays stretch along roughly 2 km of waterfront, so expect to walk; weekday shuttles stop at 18:00; and the last KTX from Masan to Seoul leaves in the evening (Korail's timetable changes on 1 November; check it in the Korail app), so plan to stay in Changwon or Busan if you want the night shows. Dotseom, a small island park about 10 minutes offshore by ferry, makes a good daylight add-on, but boats stop in the late afternoon, so go early and check the last boat back at the terminal.
Highlights
- About 100,000 chrysanthemum plants in eight themed exhibitions at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park (2026), with giant flower sculptures and a chrysanthemum bonsai show
- Multimedia fireworks show on opening day, Saturday 31 October 2026
- Sea nakhwa (falling-fire) show on the water in front of 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park, Wednesday 4 November 2026 from 19:00, with more than 1,500 fireworks tubes over about an hour, new this year
- Outdoor 'Sea-Light Chrysanthemum Cinema' at Masan Haeyang New Town, 17:00–21:00 every day of the festival, with 15 youth-run booths
- Food court at Masan Haeyang New Town with chefs from tvN's 'Street Restaurant Fighter' (tacos, grilled sausage, charcoal-grilled pork galbi)
- Citizens' chrysanthemum costume contest (10 teams picked in online preliminaries), the Gukhyang song contest and an indie music festa
- Masan Fish Market beside the second zone and Odong-dong's agujjim (spicy braised monkfish) street about 10 minutes' walk away
Who it suits. Best for flower lovers, photographers and families who want a free, easy seaside walk among large chrysanthemum sculptures, and for travelers basing themselves in Busan or Changwon; less suited to anyone who needs English-language programs or wants to see the night shows and still get back to Seoul the same evening.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Seoul Station on the Gyeongjeon Line to Masan Station, then the free festival shuttle (every 30 minutes) or a taxi to 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park. Trains run roughly hourly, with fewer Monday–Thursday than Friday–Sunday. KTX journeys take about 3 hours (2 h 55 m–3 h 17 m), and the standard-class fare is ₩48,300 on KTX trains or ₩48,600 on KTX-Sancheon. A new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026, so check train times in the Korail app (코레일+) before the festival day.
From Busan
Intercity bus from Busan Seobu Bus Terminal at Sasang (Metro Line 2) to Masan, then the festival shuttle from Masan Station or a taxi to the waterfront. Journey times, fares and which Masan terminal the buses use were not verified for this record.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Seoul Station, then KTX to Masan; or a domestic flight to Gimhae Airport (Busan) and a bus or taxi on to Masan. Allow most of a day either way.
Last leg from Masan Station
Korail Gyeongjeon Line (KTX). Too far to walk comfortably; the free festival shuttle starts here and loops via Odong-dong Culture Plaza and Hapo Waterfront Park to 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park
Festival shuttle
2026: a free circular shuttle from Masan Station, every 30 minutes according to a travel guide's report of the city's schedule, on the loop Masan Station → Odong-dong Culture Plaza → IBK Bank / Hapo Waterfront Park → 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park → Masan Gagopa Fisheries Market → Masan Station. On weekdays it stops at 18:00 (Maeil Shinmun, 16 October 2026); it runs later at weekends, but the city has not published the weekend end time on the pages read, so check the last shuttle at the stop. Free shuttles to Masan Station also ran every 30 minutes in 2023.
Getting home
The last train times from Masan for 31 October–8 November were not checked: a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026, so check the last train back to Seoul in the Korail app (코레일+) or at Masan Station before the festival day, and book the return in advance. Festival shuttles stop at 18:00 on weekdays and run later at weekends. The sea nakhwa show on Wednesday 4 November starts at 19:00 and lasts about an hour, and the start time of the opening-night fireworks on Saturday 31 October was not published: staying overnight in Changwon is the safer plan.
Parking
5,500 spaces in 2026 (4,500 in 2025), including temporary lots at two sites in Masan Haeyang New Town and on an unopened eight-lane road; Masan Port also has permanent car parks. The city's notice gave no fee (one travel article calls the temporary lots free). Weekends are busy, so the shuttle from Masan Station is the easier option. The city expects bottlenecks on the coastal road around the sea nakhwa show on 4 November.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | Free (KTO listing) |
| Chrysanthemum Pass (mobile, 24 hours) | ₩12,900 | Optional; discounts at 36 Changwon Tour Pass partner shops and ₩2,000 off at up to three festival booths; bought on the Changwon city website |
| Dotseom ferry, adult return | ₩12,000 | Separate from the festival; seniors 65+ and middle/high school students ₩11,000, children from 24 months to elementary school ₩8,000, under 24 months free |
| Temporary car parks | — | 5,500 spaces; the city's notice gave no fee (one travel article calls them free) |
- Booking
- No booking or tickets for entry. The Chrysanthemum Pass is sold as a mobile pass on the Changwon city website; whether it accepts foreign cards or needs a Korean phone number was not stated. Dotseom ferry tickets are sold at the terminal, and return tickets can also be booked online.
- English on site
- No English-language festival information or interpretation service was found on the pages opened.
- Crowds
- About 867,000 visitors over nine days in 2025 (756,000 in 2024); the city expects about 900,000 in 2026. Weekends and the fireworks evenings are the busiest times.
- Best time to go
- A weekday morning for the flower displays without crowds, or late afternoon into the evening lighting; the opening-night fireworks on 31 October and the 19:00 sea nakhwa on 4 November are the evening highlights.
- What to bring
- A warm layer for the sea wind after dark, comfortable shoes for about 2 km of waterfront between zones, and a charged phone if you plan to buy the mobile Chrysanthemum Pass.
- Toilets
- Nine temporary toilet sites in 2026 (five in 2025), plus the permanent toilets at Masan Port.
- Step-free access
- The city planned step-free routes for wheelchairs and strollers across all three zones in 2026; a listings site also mentions wheelchair and stroller loans and a nursing room.
2026 program
- Sat 31 Octopening ceremony and multimedia fireworks show at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park (times not published on the pages opened)
- Wed 4 Nov 19:00sea nakhwa (falling-fire) show on the water in front of 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park, more than 1,500 fireworks tubes over about an hour, first time at the festival
- Zone 1, 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park: eight themed exhibitions of about 100,000 chrysanthemum plants, chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition, costume contest (10 teams from online preliminaries), Gukhyang song contest, indie music festa, chrysanthemum dance and cheerleading
- Zone 2, Hapo Waterfront Parkfireworks show run with local merchants and Masan Port night-sea festival performances
- Zone 3, Masan Haeyang New Town (new): food place with tvN 'Street Restaurant Fighter' chefs, Sea-Light Chrysanthemum Cinema 17:00–21:00 daily, 15 youth booths, wedding photo zone, AI experience booths
- Running alongsideGagopa Masan Port Night Sea Festival, Changwon Dragon Boat Race, Changwon World Dicasi (photo-poetry) Festival and Changdong Ramen Festival
26th edition, theme '국화, 가을 바다를 품다' (Chrysanthemums, embracing the autumn sea). The city expects about 900,000 visitors. Booths must show prices, origin, portion sizes and payment methods, and one overcharging offence removes a booth.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Late October to early November 2027, nine days from a Saturday and timed to the chrysanthemum bloom; this would be the 27th edition. Not announced as of 18 Oct 2026. Changwon City announced the 2026 dates and program on 28 September 2026. | expected | In 2025 the city said in July that the festival would move later than in 2024 because summer heat had delayed the bloom; exact dates followed by early October. |
| 2026 | 31 Oct – 8 Nov 2026 | confirmed | Three zones along Masan Bay, walkable from one to the next: 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park (main exhibition), Hapo Waterfront Park (performances and food, next to Masan Fish Market) and Masan Haeyang New Town (new in 2026). Nine temporary toilet sites and step-free routes for wheelchairs and strollers across all zones. |
| 2025 | 1–9 Nov 2025 | ended | 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park and Hapo Waterfront Park, joined by a 2.2 km waterfront route decorated with chrysanthemums. |
| 2024 | 26 Oct – 3 Nov 2024 | ended | About 2 km from 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park to Hapo Waterfront Park, linked by a lit 'Chrysanthemum Wish Road'. The displays stayed up for self-guided viewing on 4–10 Nov, without programs. |
| 2023 | 28 Oct – 6 Nov 2023 | ended | Back at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park and Hapo Waterfront Park (main area 25,000 m²) after 2020–2022 at Masan Haeyang New Town. |
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 small island park in Masan Bay, about 1.5 km offshore, with a 1.5 km loop path (about 40 minutes, 1 h 30 m with the summit) under tulip trees and hackberries, views back over Masan and Hapo Bay, golden-pig sculptures and, in autumn, purple asters. Go in the morning or early afternoon: boats stop in the late afternoon, and the timetable for the festival dates was not confirmed (in winter they ran hourly on weekdays). Ask for the last boat back when you buy the ticket.
Getting there: Ferry from the Dotseom terminal at Masan Port (Je2budu-ro 56), about 10 min; adult return ₩12,000
Masan's traditional seafood market between Hapo-ro and the waterfront, with about 200 raw-fish restaurants with tanks and stalls selling dried fish and jeotgal (salted seafood). Shops keep their own hours, broadly 10:00–22:00, so it works for lunch before the displays or dinner after dark beside the stage and food zone. Its merchants ran festival discounts in 2024; whether they do so in 2026 was not announced.
Getting there: Next to the Hapo Waterfront Park zone, on foot; the festival shuttle stops at Hapo Waterfront Park
- Odong-dong Agujjim Street (오동동 아구찜 거리)After
A street of about 20 restaurants serving agujjim, monkfish braised with bean sprouts, watercress and a hot doenjang-and-gochujang sauce, a dish said to have been created in Odong-dong in the early 1960s. Go for dinner once the displays are lit; hours vary by restaurant. On weekdays the festival shuttle to Masan Station stops at 18:00, so plan a taxi to the station after dinner, and leave time for the last train.
Getting there: On foot, about 285 m from Masan Fish Market (KTO), about 10 minutes from Hapo Waterfront Park
- Getting awayAfter
On weekdays the free shuttle back to Masan Station stops at 18:00 (Maeil Shinmun, 16 October 2026), before the evening lighting and the 19:00 sea nakhwa on 4 November, so take a taxi to the station or stay in Changwon. Weekend shuttles run later; the city has not published the last one, so ask at the stop. Book the KTX back in advance and check the last train in the Korail+ app (코레일+).
Questions travelers ask
When is the Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival 2026?
31 October–8 November 2026 (Saturday to Sunday), 10:00–22:00 daily per the KTO listing, at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park, Hapo Waterfront Park and Masan Haeyang New Town in Changwon. It is the 26th edition.
Is the festival free?
Yes, entry to all three zones is free. An optional mobile Chrysanthemum Pass (₩12,900, valid 24 hours) gives discounts at festival booths and partner shops, and the Dotseom ferry (₩12,000 adult return) is separate.
How do I get there from Seoul?
Take the KTX from Seoul Station to Masan Station on the Gyeongjeon Line, then the free festival shuttle, which loops every 30 minutes via Odong-dong and Hapo Waterfront Park to 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park; it stops at 18:00 on weekdays and runs later at weekends. The KTX takes about 3 hours and costs ₩48,300–₩48,600 in standard class. A new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026, so check the last train back in the Korail app (코레일+) before the festival day.
When are the fireworks and the sea fire show?
The multimedia fireworks are on opening day, Saturday 31 October 2026, and the new sea nakhwa (falling-fire) show starts at 19:00 on Wednesday 4 November in front of 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park, with more than 1,500 fireworks tubes burning for about an hour. The fireworks start time had not been published on the pages opened.
How many chrysanthemums are there?
About 100,000 plants in eight themed exhibitions in 2026. The 2024 edition used about 165,000 plants and the 2025 edition about 170,000.
Can I visit Dotseom island during the festival?
Yes, in daylight. Ferries leave the Dotseom terminal at Masan Port (Je2budu-ro 56) for a crossing of about 10 minutes; adult return ₩12,000. Boats stop in the late afternoon and the timetable for the festival dates was not confirmed: in winter (January 2026 report) they ran hourly on weekdays and every 30 minutes at weekends. Check the last boat back at the terminal (055-245-4451). More than 5,000 festival visitors went over in 2025.
When is the 2027 festival?
Not announced yet. Recent editions ran 26 Oct–3 Nov 2024, 1–9 Nov 2025 and 31 Oct–8 Nov 2026, so expect nine days from a Saturday in late October or early November 2027, timed to the bloom. The 2026 dates were announced on 28 September.
Is there parking?
Yes, 5,500 spaces in 2026, including temporary lots at Masan Haeyang New Town, but weekends are busy and the free shuttle from Masan Station is easier.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
29 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 festival listing (ktriptips mirror of KTO data, updated 28 Oct 2026) — 마산가고파국화축제kto — 2026 dates 31 Oct–8 Nov, hours 10:00~22:00, free, three venues, address 월남동1가 46-3, host 창원특례시 / organizer 마산국화축제위원회, phone, coordinates 35.1867/128.5639, held since 2000, six farms in 1961 and first export to Japan in 1972, program list, Imhangseon Greenway about 289 m
- Herald Business — 제26회 마산 가고파국화축제 10월 31일 개막 (28 Sep 2026)news — 2026 dates (9 days), 900,000 visitor target, three zones, Zone 3 with 15 booths, multimedia fireworks on opening day 31 Oct, sea nakhwa 4 Nov 19:00 in front of 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park, tvN chefs and dishes, 5,500 parking spaces (+1,000) and temporary lot locations, Chrysanthemum Pass ₩12,900 with 36 partner shops and ₩2,000 off at up to three booths, one-strike-out rule
- Maeil Shinmun — 10월 국화 축제 5곳 비교… 17일 유성부터 31일 마산까지 밤 10시 야간 개장 (16 Oct 2026)news — 2026 festival 31 Oct–8 Nov (9 days), free; opening-night fireworks; first sea nakhwa on the evening of 4 Nov with more than 1,500 fireworks tubes, about one hour; about 5,500 parking spaces; free shuttle from Masan Station, weekday shuttles end at 18:00; city concerned about bottlenecks on the coastal road during the nakhwa; no change or cancellation reported
- Sisa Journal — '국화, 가을 바다를 품다'…마산가고파국화축제 내달 개막 (28 Sep 2026)news — 100,000 plants in eight themed exhibitions, costume contest and sea nakhwa new in 2026, parking 4,500→5,500, temporary toilets 5→9, price-display rules, reusable-container zone, barrier-free routes for wheelchairs and strollers in all zones
- Yonhap via Korean Vibe — '국화, 가을바다를 품다'…마산가고파국화축제 10월 31일 개막 (28 Sep 2026)news — Zones walkable from one to another, Hapo zone tied to Masan Fish Market, costume contest with 10 teams from online preliminaries, Chrysanthemum Pass ₩12,900 bought on the city website and valid 24 hours, 860,000 visitors in 2025, 900,000 expected
- Gyeongnam Maeil — 마산가고파국화축제, 국화 향기 따라 행복이 솟아요 (28 Sep 2026)news — 26th edition 31 Oct–8 Nov (9 days), theme, 100,000 plants in eight themes, concurrent events (Dragon Boat Race, World Dicasi Festival, Changdong Ramen Festival)
- Asia Economy (English) — Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival Embraces Autumn ... Kicks Off October 31 (28 Sep 2026)news — English slogan 'Chrysanthemums, Embracing the Autumn Sea', English zone names, Zone 2 merchant fireworks and night-sea festival
- Hankyung — autumn festival roundup incl. 제26회 마산가고파국화축제 (9 Oct 2026)news — 26th edition, 10.31(토)–11.8(일), venues, Zone 3 AI and outdoor cinema, nearby Masan Fish Market and Dotseom with purple asters
- telltrip — 마산가고파국화축제 2026 guide (17 Oct 2026)blog — Free shuttle every 30 minutes on the loop Masan Station–Odong-dong Culture Plaza–IBK/Hapo Waterfront Park–3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park–Masan Gagopa Fisheries Market, weekday end 18:00 (its weekend end time and first departures are not confirmed by the city and not used); cinema 31 Oct–8 Nov 17:00–21:00 with 15 youth booths; hours 10:00–22:00; 86만 visitors in 2025; nine temporary toilets
- mom-mom — 마산가고파국화축제 listingother — Hours 10:00–22:00, free, walk-in only, free shuttle loop Masan Station–Odong-dong–festival every 30 minutes, about 5,500 parking spaces, nursing room and wheelchair/stroller rental, opening fireworks 31 Oct and sea nakhwa 4 Nov
- Daum (여행 숙소이야기) — 10만 그루 국화꽃밭 무료 가을꽃축제 (1 Oct 2026)blog — Conflicting hours 09:00–21:00, Zone 2 next to Masan Fish Market, Odong-dong agujjim area about a 10-minute walk from Zone 2, free temporary parking claim, contact Changwon tourism division
- Ardent News — 86만 명이 찾았다더니…바닷길 따라 핀 10만 본 국화꽃 명소 (4 Oct 2026)news — 2026 dates, 10:00–22:00, free, Chrysanthemum Pass ₩12,900, Masan Port open all year with toilets and parking, history 1961/1972/2000
- Twig24 (Seoul Shinmun regional) — 마산가고파국화축제 새달 1일 개막 (30 Oct 2025)news — 2025 dates 1–9 Nov, theme, about 170,000 plants, 'Voyage' airplane and boarding-gate displays, Hong Kong-ba stalls 12:00–22:00, 1 Nov 15:30 parade and 19:00 opening with 700 drones, cinema from 17:00
- Kukinews — 제25회 마산가고파국화축제 (27 Oct 2025)news — 2025 schedule: 2 Nov indie music festa, 5 Nov multimedia fireworks, 8 Nov dance and cheerleading; night hours extended by one hour to 22:00; festival began in 2000
- Kukinews — 마산가고파국화축제 꽃을 넘어 콘텐츠로 (18 Jul 2025)news — 2025 festival moved one to two weeks later than 2024 because heat delayed the bloom; nine days in early November
- Kukinews — 제25회 마산가고파국화축제 개막 (3 Nov 2025)news — 2025 opening on 1 Nov at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park with 700 drones; city linked the festival with the fish market and Dotseom
- Sisa Journal — 창원시 마산가고파국화축제, 86만 명 방문 (10 Nov 2025)news — About 860,000 visitors over 1–9 Nov 2025; 700-drone show; full bloom from opening day
- Gyeongnam Ilbo — 제25회 마산가고파국화축제, 829억 지역경제 효과 창출 (23 Dec 2025)news — City evaluation: 867,000 visitors in 2025, up about 14.7% from 756,000 in 2024; ₩82.9 billion local economic effect
- Ardent News — 9일 동안 86만 명이 몰렸다 (11 Nov 2025)news — 2025: 2.2 km waterfront stretch linking the two parks decorated with chrysanthemums; about 860,000 visitors
- Citizen Administration News — 제25회 마산가고파국화축제 기간 돝섬 관광 인기 (10 Nov 2025)news — More than 5,000 visitors to Dotseom during the 2025 festival; ferries every 30 minutes; ₩9,000 return (25% off) through December for residents, birthday visitors and returning SNS posters
- Seoul Shinmun — 창원 '1억 2000만송이 국화 구경 오세요' (25 Oct 2024)news — 2024 dates 26 Oct–3 Nov, venues, theme, 120 million blooms, 165,000 plants, 6 m yellow-dragon gate, 230 works, 10 themes, parade 27 Oct, indie music 1 Nov, cheerleading 2 Nov, hands-on activities
- Stars and Stripes Korea (haps) — 24th Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival results (5 Nov 2024)news — 756,000 visitors in 2024; self-guided viewing 4–10 Nov; about 2 km from 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park to Hapo Waterfront Park; 7 m rotating tree of 1,080 pots; opening crowd over 10,000; fireworks 30,000; 80 vendors and fish-market discounts
- Stars and Stripes Korea (haps) — Masan Chrysanthemum Festival to be renamed (28 Jul 2024)news — Name history (2000–2004 Masan Chrysanthemum Festival, 2005–2018 Gagopa, 2019–2023 without Gagopa), 'Gagopa' restored from the 24th edition by council vote 24 to 18, link to Lee Eun-sang (1903–1982) and the controversy
- Seoul Shinmun — 마산만 '10만 송이 축제' (23 Oct 2023)news — 2023 dates 28 Oct–6 Nov, opening 18:30, evening opening to 21:00, fireworks 3 Nov 20:00, about 500 drones, about 100,000 plants of 140+ varieties, 201 works, 25,000 m² main area, moved from Haeyang New Town (2020–2022), mussel festival 4–5 Nov, song contest final 6 Nov, free shuttles every 30 minutes incl. Masan Station
- Munhwa Ilbo — 제21회 마산국화축제 (28 Sep 2021)news — 2021 edition at Masan Haeyang New Town, an artificial island in Masan Bay; drive-through format in 2020
- Wikipedia — Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festivalother — Held since 2000, late October to early November, name changes (2002, 2005)
- KTO tourist data (ktriptips mirror) — 돝섬(창원)kto — Dotseom ferry fares: adult ₩12,000, seniors 65+ and middle/high school ₩11,000, children 24 months–elementary ₩8,000, under 24 months free; free parking
- KTO 대한민국 구석구석 — 쉬고 싶은 그대, 섬으로 가라. 창원 돝섬kto — Dotseom ferry terminal at 제2부두로 56, Masan Port; about 10 minutes by boat; boats every 30 minutes, with first and last boats by season (undated, not valid for the festival dates, not used); reachable only by boat
- telltrip — 돝섬 ferry and walking guide (9 Oct 2026)blog — October 2026 fares ₩12,000/₩11,000/₩8,000; boats every 30 minutes; island 1.5 km from Masan Port, 112,000 m²
- Namuwiki (namu.moe mirror) — 돝섬other — Terminal address 제2부두로 56 and free parking; about 10-minute, 1.5 km crossing; round-trip tickets bookable online; Dotseom hosted the chrysanthemum festival in 2003–2009
- Korail press release: 코레일-에스알 9월 1일 하나로…안전 최우선, 더 편리한 고속철도의 시작 (31 Aug 2026)official — KTX and SRT merged into KTX from 1 Sep 2026; booking in the Korail+ app
- Seoul Station → Masan train timetable, 18–24 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-18)other — 14 trains a day on 19–22 Oct (Mon–Thu) and 18 on 18, 23 and 24 Oct (clock times not used: not valid for the festival dates); 2 h 55 m–4 h 48 m; standard fares KTX-Sancheon ₩48,600, KTX ₩48,300, ITX-Saemaeul ₩41,100
- Masan → Seoul Station train timetable, 19–25 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-19)other — KTX journeys 2 h 55 m–3 h 17 m; later last trains Fri–Sun than Mon–Thu; standard fare ₩48,600 (clock times not used: not valid for the festival dates)
- Korail — 열차운임/시간표 (official timetable and fare downloads)official — Index of current Korail timetables, including KTX editions of 15 May 2026 and 1 Nov 2026 (copied from the site's Wolchulsan Chrysanthemum Festival record)
- Changwon Jungang → Suseo train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Late-evening Mon–Thu train to Suseo in mid-October 2026 (copied from the site's Jinhae Gunhangje record) (clock times not used: not valid for the festival dates)
- Daum (content partner article) — 배 타고 10분이면 도착하는 새해 소원 명소: 창원 돝섬 (6 Jan 2026)blog — Winter ferry service hourly on weekdays and every 30 minutes at weekends, about 10 minutes from the Dotseom terminal at Masan Port 2nd pier; adult return ₩12,000; 055-245-4451; 1.5 km loop path about 40 minutes, about 1 h 30 m with the summit; tulip trees and hackberries, golden pig and bridge sculptures
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 돝섬(창원), modified 12 Mar 2026kto — Ferry fares adult ₩12,000, seniors and middle/high school ₩11,000, children ₩8,000; tree-lined walking paths, coastal walk with views of Masan and Hapo Bay, golden pig and golden bridge; homepage dotseom.kr
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 마산어시장kto — About 200 raw-fish restaurants with tanks, dried fish and jeotgal; 10:00–22:00 varying by shop, closing days vary; located between Hapo-ro and the coast; Odong-dong agujjim street 285 m; homepage xn--hz2bi0kxybg9db5c.org
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 마산 오동동 아구찜거리kto — About 20 agujjim restaurants; monkfish with doenjang, gochujang, bean sprouts, watercress and green onion; dish created in Odong-dong in the early 1960s; hours vary by restaurant; Changwon tourism division 055-225-3690; no homepage listed
What we could not confirm
- Daily hours: the KTO listing and most articles give 10:00–22:00, one travel article 09:00–21:00; whether the displays stay lit to 22:00 every day was not confirmed on a Changwon city page.
- Start times of the 31 Oct opening ceremony and fireworks (still not given in KTO data updated 28 Oct 2026), and the dates of the costume-contest final and song contest, were not published on the pages opened; Changwon's own festival notice could not be fetched.
- The detailed 2026 shuttle schedule (route, every 30 minutes) comes from a travel guide and a listings site, not the city's own notice; a Maeil Shinmun report of 16 October confirms the free shuttle from Masan Station and its 18:00 weekday end. The guide's weekend end time and first departures are not confirmed by the city (no notice found 29 Oct 2026) and not used.
- Masan Station fares and journey times come from a third-party mirror of the national timetable feed for 18–25 October 2026; no train clock times are given because a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026.
- Busan–Masan intercity bus times, fares and terminal were not verified.
- Whether the temporary car parks are free (only a travel article says so).
- Dotseom ferry timetable in force on 31 Oct–8 Nov 2026 (first and last boats, weekday and weekend frequency); clock times removed on 27 Oct 2026. A January 2026 report gave winter sailings hourly on weekdays and every 30 minutes at weekends; dotseom.kr was not opened. Whether a festival discount runs in 2026.
- Edition numbering: KTO says the festival has been held since 2000, but 2026 is numbered the 26th, which implies one year was not counted.
- Japanese and Chinese names were not found on a KTO or official page.
- English support, rain policy and pet rules were not published.
- 2027 dates have not been announced; no licensed photo was recorded.
- Last train back on the festival dates (31 Oct–8 Nov 2026) under the timetable in force that day, from Masan (and Changwon Jungang) to Seoul Station and Suseo.
- Changwon city's own 2026 shuttle notice was not found on 27 Oct 2026; the 18:00 weekday end in getThere.leaving rests on Maeil Shinmun's report of this edition (16 Oct 2026).
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: added Masan Station KTX times, fares and last trains, and sea nakhwa details (1,500 tubes, about an hour). · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed October-timetable train times and unconfirmed shuttle clock times (a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November); kept journey time, fares and the 18:00 weekday shuttle end reported by Maeil Shinmun, and added a reminder to check the last train in the Korail app. · 2026-10-27 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: Dotseom ferry clock times removed (timetable for the festival dates not confirmed), getThere.leaving added; weekday shuttle end 18:00 kept from this edition's news report; prices: unchanged (entry free; Chrysanthemum Pass and ferry fare from current sources) · 2026-10-29 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: no changes found (dates, 10:00–22:00 hours and free entry unchanged in KTO data updated 28 Oct 2026; weekday shuttle end 18:00 per this edition's report; weekend shuttle end and opening-fireworks time still unpublished); train, ferry and shuttle clock times not valid for the festival dates removed from the source notes.
