At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Around Hangeul Day, 9 October 2027 (a Saturday): the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions all opened on 9 October, and the last two ran for three days. The festival is a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Culture and Tourism Festival for 2026–2027. Dates not announced as of 19 October 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Around Hangeul Day, 9 October 2027 (a Saturday): the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions all opened on 9 October, and the last two ran for three days. The festival is a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Culture and Tourism Festival for 2026–2027. Dates not announced as of 19 October 2026. |
| Admission | Free. A few programmes are paid (the Hangeul Train in 2026), and some may need booking.Entry: Free (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Sejong Lake Park and Sejong Central Park세종특별자치시 다솜로 216 (세종동) |
| Nearest station | Government Complex Sejong South stop (BRT) (정부세종청사남측), BRT from Osong Station (B2, B3; the ministry also lists B1) and from Sejong Express Bus Terminal (B0, B2, B3)About 15 minutes to Sejong Lake Park |
| From Seoul | about 1 h 35 min · KTX + BusLeave from Seoul Station · One-way fare from ₩16,900Full route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Sejong Special Self-Governing City (host); Sejong City Culture and Tourism Foundation (organizer)세종특별자치시 · (재)세종시문화관광재단 |
| Usual timing | Three or four days from Hangeul Day, 9 October (9–12 Oct 2024, 9–11 Oct 2025, 9–11 Oct 2026). Held every year since 2013, as the Sejong Festival until 2024 and as the Sejong Hangeul Festival since 2025. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 2013 |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 22 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Sejong, Korea's planned administrative capital, is named after King Sejong, the 15th-century king who created Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Its main festival takes the name literally: it opens every year on Hangeul Day, 9 October, and fills Sejong Lake Park and the neighbouring Sejong Central Park with Hangeul stages, games, workshops and night shows. It has been held every year since 2013 as the Sejong Festival (세종축제) and was renamed the Sejong Hangeul Festival (세종한글축제) in 2025, after a citizen survey in which 80% backed the change.
The 2026 edition ran for three days, 9–11 October, under the slogan "Hangeul to All the World" (온 누리에 한글), marking 100 years since Hangeul Day was established and 580 years since King Sejong proclaimed the alphabet in the Hunminjeongeum. Hangeul Day began with the Hangeul Run, on courses of 10.9 km and 5.15 km, and an aerobatic display by the Air Force's Black Eagles over Central Park, and ended with an evening stage and a drone show. The second night had fireworks and another drone show, and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra gave the closing concert on the third evening. In between there were a Hangeul product expo, a Hangeul playground, a special Hangeul exhibition, dance and e-sports contests and stages run by local artists and citizens.
Entry is free and the site is spread out: the main stage is on the city festival plaza in Central Park, while the hands-on Hangeul zones, the Maehwa performance stage and a floating stage island are around the lake. Expect local families in large numbers: the 2025 edition counted a record 310,000 visitors over three days. Most daytime activities close at 17:00 or 18:00, and the evening shows are the busiest time.
Getting there takes some planning, because Sejong has no KTX station of its own. The quickest route from Seoul is a KTX to Osong, then a BRT bus to the Government Complex Sejong and a 15-minute walk; express buses from Seoul take a little over two hours. The festival is one of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Culture and Tourism Festivals for 2026–2027, so a 2027 edition around Hangeul Day is expected, but no dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026.
Highlights
- Opens on Hangeul Day, 9 October, in the city named after King Sejong, who created the Korean alphabet; held since 2013 and renamed the Sejong Hangeul Festival in 2025
- Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic display over Central Park on the opening day (2024 and 2026)
- Hangeul Run on the morning of Hangeul Day, with 10.9 km and 5.15 km courses and about 13,000 runners in 2026
- Night drone shows and fireworks (in 2026, drones on 9 October and fireworks with drones on 10 October)
- Hangeul product expo, Hangeul playground and hands-on Hangeul experiences around the lake's central plaza
- Closing concert by the Korean National Symphony Orchestra (18:00 on 11 October 2026)
- Selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a Culture and Tourism Festival for 2026–2027
Who it suits. Families, students of Korean and anyone curious about the Korean alphabet, and travellers who want a large free outdoor festival outside Seoul. Most programming is in Korean, and the site covers two large parks, so it suits visitors who are happy to wander; pair it with Gongju or Cheongju for a longer trip.
Getting there
From Seoul
Sejong has no KTX station. Take a KTX from Seoul Station to Osong, where the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines meet: about 28 trains a day, mostly 46–53 minutes, ₩16,900 standard class. From Osong, a BRT bus (B2 or B3; the ministry's directions also list B1) takes about 30 minutes to the Government Complex Sejong; get off at the south stop and walk about 15 minutes to Sejong Lake Park. By express bus: from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu line), about 15 buses a day run to the Office for Government Policy Coordination (국무조정실) stop at the Government Complex, about 2 h 6 m, ₩15,700 deluxe. Buses also run to Sejong Express Bus Terminal, from which BRT B0, B2 or B3 goes to the Government Complex south stop.
From Busan
KTX from Busan Station to Osong: about 39 trains a day on weekdays, about 1 h 45 m–2 h, ₩37,800 standard class; then a BRT bus into Sejong as above. For the return, check the last Osong–Busan train in the Korail app (코레일+ / Korail+) or at the station before the festival day.
From Incheon Airport
Direct intercity buses link Incheon Airport and Sejong Express Bus Terminal: about 15 a day in the Sejong-to-airport direction, about 3 h 27 m to Terminal 1, ₩27,800 deluxe; departure times from the airport were not checked. Alternatively, take AREX to Seoul Station and a KTX to Osong.
Last leg from Government Complex Sejong South stop (BRT)
BRT from Osong Station (B2, B3; the ministry also lists B1) and from Sejong Express Bus Terminal (B0, B2, B3). About 15 minutes to Sejong Lake Park
Festival shuttle
No festival shuttle bus was documented in the sources we could open. The festival website (sjfestival.kr) posts a public-transport guide and a parking map for each edition.
Getting home
The festival closed at 21:00 in 2026 (19:00 on the last day). The KTX from Osong to Seoul Station takes about 50 minutes, but allow about 45 minutes by BRT and on foot from the park to Osong. Express buses from Sejong Express Bus Terminal to Seoul Express Bus Terminal take 2 h 29 m. Timetables change (Korail's changed on 1 November 2026): check the last train in the Korail app (코레일+ / Korail+) or at the station, and the last bus at the terminal, before the festival day.
Parking
The 2026 parking guide was published only as an image map on the festival website, and access restrictions can change on the day, so check it before driving. No parking fees or capacities were found in text.
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 | |
| Hangeul Train | — | Marked as paid in the official programme list (as reported by a travel guide); fare not found |
- Booking
- No booking for entry. The timetable and site map are posted on the festival website (sjfestival.kr) and its Instagram before each edition; some programmes may need reservations on the day. KTX tickets are sold on Korail+ and korail.com.
- English on site
- No English programme from the organizer was found. KTO publishes Japanese and Traditional Chinese listings of the festival.
- Crowds
- Busy: the 2025 edition drew a record 310,000 visitors over three days, and the 2026 Hangeul Run alone had about 13,000 runners. Opening day and the evening drone and fireworks shows are the peaks.
- Best time to go
- Hangeul Day itself, 9 October, for the air show, the opening stage and the drone show; the second evening for fireworks (2026 pattern); daytime for the hands-on Hangeul programmes, which mostly close at 17:00–18:00.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for walking between the two parks, a warm layer for October evenings by the lake, and a T-money card for the BRT.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Around Hangeul Day, 9 October 2027 (a Saturday): the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions all opened on 9 October, and the last two ran for three days. The festival is a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Culture and Tourism Festival for 2026–2027. Dates not announced as of 19 October 2026. | expected | In 2026 the dates were public by 20 August, when the city announced the programme. |
| 2026 | 9–11 Oct 2026 | ended | The main stage moved to the city festival plaza (도시축제마당) in Sejong Central Park; the other zones were Sejong Lake Park's central plaza, Maehwa stage, Pureun Deulpan field and floating stage island. |
| 2025 | 9–11 Oct 2025 | ended | First year under the name 세종한글축제; theme 세종, 한글을 품다 ("Sejong embraces Hangeul"); 87 programmes and a record 310,000 visitors. The Hangeul International Pre-Biennale ran alongside, 1 September–12 October 2025. |
| 2024 | 9–12 Oct 2024 | ended | Main venue around Sejong Lake Park, with jazz and magic shows on the floating stage island and the music festival in Central Park. |
Nearby
- 2026 Hangeul Culture Special Exhibition 'Sejong and Nam June' (2026 한글문화특별기획전 〈세종과 남준〉) — Biennale Exhibition Hall, Sejong Central Park. Free exhibition pairing King Sejong's alphabet with Nam June Paik's video art, 9 October–8 November 2026, 10:00–18:00; volunteer docent tours Tuesday to Sunday at 14:00 and 16:00.
- Baekje Cultural Festival (백제문화제). The Baekje kingdom festival, held at the same time in Gongju and Buyeo from late September to mid-October, often overlapping with Hangeul Day; Gongju is Sejong's neighbour to the south-west.
- National Heritage Media Art Cheongju (국가유산 미디어아트 청주). Autumn evening media-art projections around the Yongdusa Temple Site iron flagpole in Cheongju's old town, east of Osong.
- Daedeok Daecheongho Lake Wave Festival (대덕대청호물결축제). A lakeside festival weekend at Geumgang LOHAS Daecheong Park in Daejeon's Daedeok-gu in late October.
- Sejong National Arboretum (국립세종수목원). A national arboretum with themed gardens and large glasshouses, next to Sejong Central Park.
- National Library of Korea, Sejong (국립세종도서관). The national library's Sejong branch on the edge of Sejong Lake Park; local buses stop outside it, a couple of minutes from the festival.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Sejong Hangeul Festival 2027?
Not announced as of 19 October 2026. It is expected around Hangeul Day, 9 October 2027: the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions all opened on 9 October and ran three or four days.
When was the 2026 festival?
9–11 October 2026, 10:00–21:00 (until 19:00 on the last day), in Sejong Lake Park and Sejong Central Park. It opened with the Hangeul Run and a Black Eagles air show and closed with a Korean National Symphony Orchestra concert at 18:00 on 11 October.
Is the Sejong Hangeul Festival free?
Yes, entry is free. A few programmes, such as the Hangeul Train in 2026, are paid.
Is the Sejong Festival the same as the Sejong Hangeul Festival?
Yes. Held since 2013 as the Sejong Festival (세종축제), it was renamed the Sejong Hangeul Festival (세종한글축제) in 2025.
How do I get to Sejong from Seoul?
Sejong has no KTX station. Take a KTX from Seoul Station to Osong (46–53 minutes, ₩16,900), then a BRT bus to the Government Complex Sejong (about 30 minutes) and walk about 15 minutes to Sejong Lake Park. Or take an express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to the Government Complex (about 2 h 6 m, ₩15,700 deluxe).
Is there anything Hangeul-themed to see after the festival?
In 2026 the Hangeul Culture Special Exhibition 'Sejong and Nam June' runs in the Biennale Exhibition Hall in Sejong Central Park until 8 November, 10:00–18:00, free, with docent tours Tuesday to Sunday at 14:00 and 16:00.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
19 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 tourist data — 세종축제 (contentId 1849007, ktriptips mirror)kto — Held since 2013, renamed 세종한글축제 in 2025; 2026 dates 9–11 Oct, 10:00–21:00 (10:00–19:00 on day 3), free; Sejong Lake Park and Central Park; address 다솜로 216; coordinates 36.49895, 127.27018; host Sejong City, organizer Sejong City Culture and Tourism Foundation; tel 044-850-0593; homepage sjfestival.kr; zones
- KTO tourist data (Japanese) — 世宗祭り（세종축제） (contentId 3307853, ktriptips mirror)kto — Japanese name 世宗祭り, renamed 世宗ハングル祭り in 2025; started 2013; 2026 dates 9–11 Oct at 世宗湖水公園 and 世宗中央公園
- KTO tourist data (Traditional Chinese) — 世宗慶典 (contentId 3330794, ktriptips mirror)kto — Traditional Chinese name 世宗慶典, renamed 世宗韓文節 in 2025; 2026 dates 9–11 Oct; hours listed as 11:00–21:00; free
- iNews24 — 세종한글축제 10월 9~11일 개최... 문체부 문화관광축제 선정 (20 Aug 2026)news — 2026 dates 9–11 Oct; slogan 온 누리에 한글; 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day and 580th of the Hunminjeongeum; main stage moved to Central Park's city festival plaza; day-by-day programme; selected as MCST 2026–2027 Culture and Tourism Festival; ceremonies scaled back
- Nocut News (English) — 2026 Sejong Hangeul Festival announcement (20 Aug 2026)news — English name Sejong Hangeul Festival; slogan 'Hangeul to All the World'; three days 9–11 Oct 2026 at Sejong Lake Park and Central Park; timetable and layout posted on the festival website and Instagram
- The Fact — 블랙이글스 곡예비행에 한글런까지…세종, 한글로 물들다 (9 Oct 2026)news — Hangeul Run from about 08:00 at Central Park, 10.9 km and 5.15 km, about 13,000 runners; Black Eagles over Central Park; opening stage 20:00; night drone show; 10 Oct fireworks and drone show, Sejong Arts Center plaza; 11 Oct quiz, Ultra Teens and National Symphony Orchestra closing at 18:00
- travelmapjourney — 세종한글축제, 마지막 날 10시부터 19시 (11 Oct 2026, citing the MCST listing and sjfestival.kr)blog — 11 Oct 2026 hours 10:00–19:00; experiences 10:00–18:00, playground to 18:00, floating stage 13:00–17:30, Ultra Teens 13:00–16:00, e-sports 16:00–18:00; Hangeul Train paid; BRT B2/B3 from Osong and B0/B2/B3 from Sejong terminal to the Government Complex south stop, then about 15 minutes' walk; bus 222 to the National Library about 2 minutes away; parking map is an image
- The Fact — 세종시, 한글문화도시 '활짝' (13 Oct 2025)news — 2025 dates 9–11 Oct; record 310,000 visitors; theme 세종, 한글을 품다; 87 programmes; first year as 세종한글축제; Taekwondo demonstration and drone show at the opening, National Symphony Orchestra and fireworks at the close; KBS singing contest about 10,000 participants; Pre-Biennale 1 Sep–12 Oct 2025
- KPI News — 세종시 대표축제 '세종한글축제'로 변경해 10월 개최 (3 Jul 2025)news — Renamed from 세종축제 to 세종한글축제 from 2025; held every year since 2013; 80% of survey respondents in favour; three days from Hangeul Day around Sejong Lake Park
- The Fact — 2024 세종축제, 한글·과학·음악 어우러진다…10월 9일 (12 Sep 2024)news — 12th edition 9–12 Oct 2024 around Sejong Lake Park; 32 programmes; fireworks nightly at 21:00 for about 5 minutes; Black Eagles and daechwita on 9 Oct; flash mob with 100+ citizens; Bohemian Music Festival 12–13 Oct (ticketed); budget ₩1.15 billion; organizer Sejong City Culture and Tourism Foundation
- KTO TourAPI listing 2026 한글문화특별기획전 〈세종과 남준〉 (contentId 4108258)kto — Exhibition 9 Oct–8 Nov 2026 at the Biennale Exhibition Hall (중앙공원로 60), 10:00–18:00, free; docent tours Tue–Sun at 14:00 and 16:00; organizer Sejong City
- Ministry of Trade and Industry (motir.go.kr) — directions to Government Complex Sejongministry — Osong Station to Government Complex Sejong by BRT B1, B2 or B3, about 30 minutes; from Sejong Express Bus Terminal by BRT B1 or B2
- Seoul Station → Osong train timetable, 18–23 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-18)other — 28 trains a day; first 05:38, last 22:18 (arr 23:04); mostly 46–53 minutes, fastest 41; standard fare ₩16,900 on KTX and KTX-Sancheon (Mugunghwa ₩8,500)
- Osong → Seoul Station train timetable, 19–23 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-19)other — 36 trains Mon–Thu, last 21:04 KTX 68 (arr 22:00) and 21:44 KTX-Sancheon (arr 22:41); 37 on Fri 23 Oct, last 22:42; mostly 45–58 minutes; ₩16,900
- Osong → Busan train timetable, 19–24 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-19)other — Busan→Osong 39 trains a day Mon–Thu (33 on Fri–Sat), 05:19–22:16; Osong→Busan last 23:26 (arr 01:08); mostly about 1 h 45 m–2 h; standard fare ₩37,800
- Seoul Express Bus Terminal → 세종국무조정실 stop express timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-10)other — 15 buses a day, 06:06–22:21, about 2 h 6 m; ₩15,700 deluxe (우등), ₩18,800 for the 22:21 bus
- 세종국무조정실 stop express departures (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-13)other — To Seoul Express Bus Terminal 15 a day, 05:56–22:21, last three 20:11, 20:46, 22:21; 2 h 20 m; ₩15,700 deluxe
- Sejong Express Bus Terminal express departures (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-06)other — To Seoul Express Bus Terminal 102 a day, 05:16–23:30, last three 22:40, 23:00, 23:30; 2 h 29 m; ₩15,700 deluxe, ₩18,400 premium (₩22,000 at 22:00 and 23:00), ₩18,800 regular after 22:00 (rechecked 20 October 2026)
- Sejong Express Bus Terminal intercity departures (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — To Incheon Airport T1 15 a day, 03:40–16:30, 3 h 27 m, ₩27,800 deluxe (₩33,300 for 03:40); to Dong Seoul 9 a day, last 19:30, 2 h 28 m, ₩17,800
- Wikipedia — Osong stationmap — Branch station of the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines; Honam KTX neighbours Cheonan-Asan and Gongju; Daejeon only on the Gyeongbu side
- 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
- 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+
What we could not confirm
- 2027 dates have not been announced (as of 19 October 2026); the expected window rests on the 9 October opening of the 2024–2026 editions and the 2026–2027 MCST designation.
- The official site sjfestival.kr could not be opened; programme times, the transport guide and the parking map come from KTO, news reports and a travel guide that cites the site.
- 2026 hours: KTO's Korean listing gives 10:00–21:00 (10:00–19:00 on the last day), its Traditional Chinese listing 11:00–21:00.
- 2026 attendance, and the times of the 2026 Black Eagles display, drone shows and fireworks, were not published in the sources found.
- Hangeul Train fare and which other programmes were paid or needed booking.
- BRT routes from Osong conflict: the ministry lists B1, B2 and B3, a travel guide B2, B3 and A3, and an OpenStreetMap route list (April 2025) only B2 and B4 from Osong; the BRT fare was not found.
- Seoul→Sejong Express Bus Terminal departures (only the 90-a-day return timetable was read), Incheon Airport→Sejong departures, and Yongsan or Suseo→Osong times and fares were not checked.
- No KTO English listing and no KTO Simplified Chinese name were found (zhHans left null; the Traditional Chinese listing uses 世宗韓文節).
- Edition numbers for 2025 and 2026 (2024 was the 12th) were not stated in the sources found.
- Parking fees and capacity, shuttle buses, accessibility, rain policy, pets and foreign-card acceptance were not published in the sources found.
- Last KTX from Osong to Seoul (and to Busan) and last express buses from Sejong to Seoul on the festival dates under the timetables in force those days; journey times, fares and frequencies are from the October 2026 timetables.
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of Sejong Lake Park, one of the venues (*Youngjin, CC BY-SA 3.0). · 2026-10-20 — Bus source note updated from the current timetable. · 2026-10-20 — Last express buses corrected to 22:40, 23:00 and 23:30 (source rechecked 20 Oct); Friday extra KTX wording. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed last-train and last-bus clock times taken from the October 2026 timetables (Korail's timetable changed on 1 November 2026); journey times and frequencies kept, with a note to check the last train in the Korail app or at the terminal before the festival day.
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