At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Mid-October 2027 is most likely if the merged format continues: the county set 16–18 October 2026 because mid-October is now the peak of the song-i auction and overlaps the salmon run. Earlier editions ran 4–8 Oct 2023, 3–6 Oct 2024 and 10–12 Oct 2025 (song-i) with the salmon festival on 24–26 Oct 2025. 2026 dates were announced in early July; nothing announced for 2027 as of 19 October 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Mid-October 2027 is most likely if the merged format continues: the county set 16–18 October 2026 because mid-October is now the peak of the song-i auction and overlaps the salmon run. Earlier editions ran 4–8 Oct 2023, 3–6 Oct 2024 and 10–12 Oct 2025 (song-i) with the salmon festival on 24–26 Oct 2025. 2026 dates were announced in early July; nothing announced for 2027 as of 19 October 2026. |
| Admission | Free entry to the festival grounds (KTO listing); the song-i treasure hunt and salmon catching cost ₩30,000 each in 2026 (₩10,000 back in local gift certificates, ₩20,000 on the Friday), and song-i liquor making ₩20,000.Entry to the festival grounds: Free · Song-i treasure hunt: ₩30,000 · Bare-handed salmon catching: ₩30,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Namdaecheon riverside, Yangyang-eup (treasure hunt at a forest site upstream)강원특별자치도 양양군 양양읍 일출로 589 |
| Nearest station | No rail access; see Getting there |
| From Seoul | about 2 h 19 min · BusLeave from Central City Terminal · One-way fare from ₩15,300Full route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Yangyang Culture Foundation, for Yangyang County양양문화재단 (주최: 양양군) |
| Usual timing | Three to five days in October, timed to the pine-mushroom harvest and the salmon run: 4–8 Oct 2023, 3–6 Oct 2024, 10–12 Oct 2025 (the salmon festival ran separately on 24–26 Oct 2025) and 16–18 Oct 2026. Before 2023 the song-i festival usually ran in late September (24–28 Sep 2010, 26–29 Sep 2019, 30 Sep–2 Oct 2022). 2026 dates were announced in early July. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 1997 |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 22 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Yangyang, a county on Gangwon's east coast between Sokcho and Gangneung, is one of Korea's best-known sources of song-i, the pine mushroom (matsutake) that grows wild under mature pine trees in early autumn. Yangyang song-i was the first forest product given a geographical indication by the Korea Forest Service, in 2006, and the daily auction at the Yangyang-Sokcho Forestry Cooperative makes national news: top-grade mushrooms fetched a record ₩1,611,200 per kilogram in early October 2025, after heat and drought cut the crop. Each autumn the same town also watches salmon swim back up the Namdaecheon river from the East Sea to spawn.
The county has held a pine-mushroom festival since 1997, and a salmon festival as well. The two ran together in 2023 and 2024, two weeks apart in 2025, and in 2026 were merged into one three-day event organized by the Yangyang Culture Foundation. The organizers moved it to mid-October because climate change has pushed the song-i harvest later and auction volumes now peak then, which also matches the salmon run.
The two signature experiences are ticketed. In the song-i treasure hunt, families search a pine forest for mushrooms; in bare-handed salmon catching, groups of 100 wade into the Namdaecheon to grab fish. Both cost ₩30,000 in 2026, with ₩10,000 returned as Yangyang Love gift certificates to spend locally, and ₩20,000 on the Friday. Around them on the riverside grounds are a salmon ecology tour, cooking shows with song-i and salmon, song-i liquor making, a mock auction show, a local food and specialty market, a stamp tour, children's snack activities and evening concerts. Entry to the grounds is free, and the 2026 edition ran 10:00–21:00.
Caveats: programmes run in Korean and pre-booking goes through a Korean app or website; the treasure-hunt forest and the riverside are separate sites linked by road; a poor harvest can cut the mushroom side, as in 2024 when mushroom picking was cancelled; and there is no train to Yangyang, so plan on an express bus from Seoul.
Highlights
- Song-i treasure hunt in a pine forest outside town: three sessions a day in 2026, ₩30,000 with ₩10,000 back in Yangyang Love gift certificates
- Bare-handed salmon catching in the Namdaecheon: three sessions a day of 100 people; bring aqua shoes, a towel and a change of clothes
- Salmon ecology tour of the Namdaecheon, where salmon return from the East Sea each autumn
- Song-i and salmon cooking shows, a local food and specialty market, and song-i liquor making (₩20,000 for a 330 ml bottle you take home)
- Song-i auction show with bids from ₩1,000, a stamp tour and a salmon-roe gacha zone for children
- Opening ceremony and concert, a riverside rock concert and a closing after-party; grounds open 10:00–21:00 in 2026
Who it suits. Best for food-minded travellers and families who want a hands-on autumn day on the east coast, especially anyone curious about Korea's prized pine mushrooms or happy to get wet catching salmon; easy to pair with Sokcho or Gangneung. Less suited to visitors who need English-language programmes, since booking and activities are in Korean.
Getting there
From Seoul
Express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu/Yeongdong side) to Yangyang: about 20 a day, scheduled at 2 h 19 m, ₩15,300 regular, ₩19,900 deluxe or ₩25,800 premium. Between Dong Seoul Terminal and Yangyang there are about two dozen buses a day; in the Yangyang–Dong Seoul direction deluxe buses take 2 h 00 m–2 h 16 m (₩19,900–20,100), premium buses 2 h 16 m (₩26,100) and regular buses on the slower route 2 h 49 m–3 h 06 m (₩21,600). There is no railway to Yangyang. The riverside grounds (Ilchul-ro 589) are in Yangyang-eup, the same town as the bus terminal; the walking distance was not confirmed, so take a taxi if in doubt. The treasure-hunt forest is a separate site upstream reached by road. Drivers use the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway, leaving at Yangyang IC.
Festival shuttle
A free shuttle bus ran at the 2023 festival. No shuttle plan for 2026 was published on the pages opened, including any link between the riverside and the treasure-hunt forest.
Getting home
No trains serve Yangyang. Buses from Yangyang to Seoul Express Bus Terminal are scheduled at 3 h 03 m in this direction, and late-night departures have cost more (₩26,000); buses also run to Dong Seoul. The 2026 festival ran until 21:00, so staying for the evening concerts depends on a late-night bus to Seoul Express (check that one runs) or a night in Yangyang. Bus times change, so check the last buses at Yangyang bus terminal before the festival day.
Parking
No 2026 festival parking plan was found. At the April 2026 cherry blossom festival on the same riverside, the lots at Yangyang Songi Sculpture Park, its park-golf course, the Namdaecheon Sports Park baseball field and the Namdaecheon Salmon Ecology Park were used (blog). Saturday daytime is expected to be the busiest time on the roads.
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 to the festival grounds | Free | |
| Song-i treasure hunt | ₩30,000 | ₩10,000 returned as Yangyang Love gift certificates; ₩20,000 on Friday 16 October (weekday discount) |
| Bare-handed salmon catching | ₩30,000 | ₩10,000 returned as Yangyang Love gift certificates; ₩20,000 on Friday 16 October (weekday discount) |
| Song-i liquor making | ₩20,000 | One 330 ml bottle to take home; pre-booking on the festival website or on site |
| Song-i auction show | ₩1,000 | Bids start at ₩1,000 |
- Booking
- In 2026 the treasure hunt and salmon catching opened for pre-booking on 28 September at 09:00 through the Go Go Yangyang (고고양양) app or the festival website (yyfestival.com); 30 treasure-hunt places and 40 salmon-catching places per session were kept for on-site, first-come sign-up. Whether foreign visitors can book online without a Korean phone number is not stated.
- English on site
- No English programme or interpretation was published; programmes run in Korean. Foreign tourists took part in salmon catching in 2025, and the 2023 edition ran a special session with US Forces Korea personnel.
- Crowds
- Large for a county festival: about 193,000 visitors over five days in 2023 and about 130,000 in 2025 despite poor weather (MTN). Treasure-hunt sessions filled early in 2025.
- Best time to go
- The Friday, when the treasure hunt and salmon catching were ₩10,000 cheaper in 2026, and earlier sessions before on-site places run out. Stay into the evening for the riverside concerts if you have a late bus or a room.
- What to bring
- Aqua shoes, a towel and a change of clothes for salmon catching; a warm layer for the evening by the river; a bag for any mushrooms you find or buy.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Mid-October 2027 is most likely if the merged format continues: the county set 16–18 October 2026 because mid-October is now the peak of the song-i auction and overlaps the salmon run. Earlier editions ran 4–8 Oct 2023, 3–6 Oct 2024 and 10–12 Oct 2025 (song-i) with the salmon festival on 24–26 Oct 2025. 2026 dates were announced in early July; nothing announced for 2027 as of 19 October 2026. | expected | |
| 2026 | 16–18 Oct 2026 | ended | Main grounds on the Namdaecheon riverside (Ilchul-ro 589, Yangyang-eup). The county named the Songi Valley Natural Recreation Forest area as the second venue; the treasure hunt was held in forest there, a separate site reached by car. |
| 2025 | 10–12 Oct 2025 | ended | Song-i festival at the Namdaecheon riverside; the Salmon Festival used the Namdaecheon riverside (Ilchul-ro 589) and, per a blog, the East Sea Bio-resources Center (동해생명자원센터) area. |
| 2024 | 3–6 Oct 2024 | ended | Namdaecheon area, Yangyang. |
| 2023 | 4–8 Oct 2023 | ended | Namdaecheon riverside, with the town's traditional market and a water-play area taking part. |
Nearby
- Gangneung Coffee Festival (강릉커피축제) — In Gangneung, south down the coast. Gangneung's coffee festival on the Anmok Beach coffee street, usually in October; check its page for whether it overlaps
- Songi Valley Natural Recreation Forest (송이밸리자연휴양림) — Upstream, by car. County forest recreation area on the upper Namdaecheon, named as the 2026 festival's second venue; Gonodong-gil 98-65, Sonyang-myeon, 033-670-2644
- Yangyang Traditional Market (양양전통시장) — In Yangyang-eup. Town market listed by KTO as a nearby sight; it took part in the 2023 festival
- Namdaecheon Sports Park (양양남대천체육공원) — On the Namdaecheon riverside. Riverside park listed by KTO near the grounds; its baseball field served as a car park for the April 2026 cherry blossom festival
- Salmon bike path (연어 자전거길). Cycling route listed by KTO among the festival's nearby sights
Questions travelers ask
When is the Yangyang Pine Mushroom and Salmon Festival 2027?
Not announced as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 edition ran 16–18 October and was set for mid-October because that is now the peak of the song-i harvest and the salmon run, so mid-October 2027 is most likely. 2026 dates were announced in early July.
Is salmon catching part of the festival?
Yes. Since 2026 the pine-mushroom and salmon festivals are one event, and bare-handed salmon catching in the Namdaecheon is one of its two main experiences (three sessions a day of 100 people). The two festivals also ran together in 2023 and 2024; in 2025 the salmon festival was held separately on 24–26 October.
How much do the treasure hunt and salmon catching cost?
₩30,000 each in 2026, with ₩10,000 returned as Yangyang Love gift certificates that you can spend locally, and ₩20,000 on Friday 16 October. Entry to the festival grounds is free; song-i liquor making cost ₩20,000.
Do I need to book in advance?
It helps. In 2026 pre-booking opened on 28 September at 09:00 on the Go Go Yangyang app or the festival website, with 60 of 100 salmon-catching places and 50 of 80 treasure-hunt places per session pre-booked; the rest went first come, first served on site.
Will I really find wild pine mushrooms?
The treasure hunt takes place in a pine forest; a 2005 report describes mushrooms hidden for participants to find and keep. Supply depends on the harvest: in 2024 heat and drought ruined the crop and mushroom picking was cancelled, with only a tasting corner kept.
How do I get to Yangyang from Seoul?
By bus; there is no train. Express buses from Seoul Express Bus Terminal take a scheduled 2 h 19 m (₩15,300–25,800, about 20 a day), and buses from Dong Seoul take about 2–3 hours (₩19,900–26,100, about two dozen a day). Check the last bus back at Yangyang bus terminal before the festival day.
How expensive are Yangyang pine mushrooms?
Very, and prices swing with the harvest. At the Yangyang-Sokcho Forestry Cooperative auction, top-grade song-i reached a record ₩1,611,200 per kg in early October 2025, while the lowest grades sold for a few hundred thousand won per kg. The festival has a local food and specialty market.
What should I bring for salmon catching?
Aqua shoes, a towel and a change of clothes, as the organizers advise; you will get wet in the Namdaecheon.
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.
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 양양 송이연어축제 (contentId 506708)kto — 2026 dates 16–18 Oct, hours 10:00–21:00, free entry with some paid programmes, venue 남대천 둔치 and address 일출로 589, coordinates 38.0728/128.6235, organizers 양양군 and 양양문화재단, phone 033-671-3803, homepage yyfestival.com; both festivals held since 1997; full 2026 programme list; nearby 연어 자전거길, 양양전통시장, 양양남대천체육공원
- Yeogiyou (여기유, KTO-data listing) — 양양송이연어축제other — 16–18 Oct 2026 (Fri–Sun), 10:00–21:00, free with some paid programmes; programme list including song-i auction show with bids from ₩1,000 and free custom T-shirt making with a receipt
- ktriptips (KTO foreign-language data) — Festival del Songi de Yangyangkto — 16–18 Oct 2026, 10:00–21:00, Ilchul-ro 589, Yangyang-eup; song-i grow under mature pine trees; mushroom picking and salmon dishes
- MTN 2026-07-02 — 양양군, 송이·연어축제 10월 통합 개최…지역경제 '가을 특수' 기대news — Song-i and salmon festivals merged for 16–18 Oct 2026 at the Namdaecheon riverside and Songi Valley Natural Recreation Forest; climate change delays the harvest and mid-October is now peak auction volume, overlapping the salmon run; last year about 130,000 visitors despite poor weather; organizers Yangyang County and Yangyang Culture Foundation
- MTN 2026-09-15 — 양양군, '송이·연어' 캐릭터 4종 공개…10월 16일 축제 개막news — 2026 dates 16–18 Oct at the Namdaecheon riverside; four characters Song-songi, Sol-harbae, Yeon-dongi, Daecheon-eomeoni; Song-i and Salmon Expedition, salmon-roe gacha, stamp tour, photo zones and goods
- MTN 2026-09-23 — [글로컬픽]양양송이연어축제 인기 체험, 28일부터 사전예약news — Pre-booking from 28 Sep 09:00 (고고양양 app or festival site); treasure hunt and salmon catching 3 sessions a day, ₩30,000 with ₩10,000 back in Yangyang Love gift certificates, ₩20,000 on 16 Oct; treasure hunt 50 pre-booked + 30 on-site; salmon catching 100 per session, 60 pre-booked + 40 on-site; liquor making ₩20,000, 330 ml bottle; eco-tour, cooking show, rubbing
- Herald Economy 2026-09-25 — 멀고먼 엄마의 고향 양양, 회귀한 연어, 백두대간 송이 만나 축제 벌인다news — 16–18 Oct 2026; treasure hunt in forest at the Baekdudaegan foothills; salmon catching participants should bring aqua shoes, a towel and a change of clothes; liquor making booked on the festival website or on site; salmon homing behaviour
- Herald Business 2026-09-16 — 2026 Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival (English)news — English name '2026 Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival', 16–18 Oct 2026 at the Namdaecheon riverside and multipurpose plaza; 2025 opening auction on 27 Sep at the Yangyang-Sokcho Forestry Cooperative
- travelmapjourney — 양양송이축제 2026, 올해는 연어축제와 같은 사흘에 열려요blog — Past dates 24–28 Sep 2010, 26–29 Sep 2019, 30 Sep–2 Oct 2022, 4–8 Oct 2023, 3–6 Oct 2024, 10–12 Oct 2025; 27th song-i festival 2025; salmon festival 24–26 Oct 2025 (Namdaecheon, 동해생명자원센터); reasons for split; ~100,000 visitors 2025; 2025 treasure hunt ₩30,000, gourmet garden ₩15,000–20,000-range; dates out early July 2026
- travelmapjourney — 양양송이축제 2026 (travel and venue details)blog — Songi Valley Natural Recreation Forest at 고노동길 98-65, Sonyang-myeon, 033-670-2644, a separate site by car; Yangyang IC on the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway; April 2026 cherry blossom festival parking lots; Saturday daytime busiest; foundation phone 033-671-7888
- Yeogiyou (여기유, KTO-data listing) — 양양연어축제 2025other — 2025 Yangyang Salmon Festival 24–26 Oct (Fri–Sun), 10:00–22:00, free entry; salmon catching ₩30,000, snack playground ₩3,000; Sunset Live jazz and reggae, chrysanthemum garden, native-salmon tasting, stamp tour; Ilchul-ro 589
- month2k — 2025년 10월 축제행사 일정 달력other — 강원양양연어축제 listed for 24–26 Oct 2025 at 양양읍 일출로 589
- Digital Times 2025-10-03 — 양양 송이 공판 (Yonhap photo report)news — 2025 song-i festival on 10 Oct, the day after the Chuseok holidays; first 2025 auction 27 Sep; record top-grade price ₩1,611,200 per kg, above ₩1,600,000 on 30 Sep 2024; lower grades ₩245,900–691,200 per kg; heat and drought; first geographical-indication forest product in 2006
- Kyunghyang 2025-09-28 — autumn festivals feature (Yangyang song-i festival)news — Yangyang song-i festival held from the 10th of the following month (October 2025)
- fanmaum community post — 2025 양양송이축제other — 2025 Yangyang Song-i Festival opening performance on Friday 10 Oct from 19:00 with Jang Min-ho
- Segye Ilbo 2024-10-01 — 양양송이연어축제 준비도 비상…송이 관련 프로그램 최소화news — 2024 Yangyang Song-i Salmon Festival 3–6 Oct around Namdaecheon; run as an ecology festival; song-i picking cancelled and programmes minimised after heat and drought; tasting kept; first auction 20 Sep 2024, latest ever; record ₩1,600,000 per kg on 30 Sep 2024
- News Seoul 2023-10-09 — 『2023 양양 송이·연어축제』성황리에 종료news — 2023 first joint festival 4–8 Oct, five days, about 193,000 visitors, six zones, salmon catching four sessions of about 100 plus a US Forces Korea session, AR programmes, canoeing, treasure hunt, Salmon Train, troupes from the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand, free shuttle bus, traditional market taking part
- Kyunghyang 2005-09-29 — 양양 송이축제news — 2005 song-i treasure hunt in county forest in Sonyang-myeon: participants find hidden mushrooms to keep; Namdaecheon riverside market and tastings
- Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Yangyang timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-09-30)other — 20 buses a day, 06:30 to 23:30; 2 h 19 m; adult ₩15,300 regular, ₩19,900 deluxe, ₩25,800 premium
- Dong Seoul → Yangyang timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-09-02)other — 23 buses a day, 06:30 to 20:30; 1 h 52 m to 3 h 10 m; adult ₩16,700 regular, ₩18,300 deluxe, ₩23,900 premium
- Yangyang → Seoul Express Bus Terminal timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-08)other — 20 buses a day, 06:50 to 23:20, scheduled 3 h 03 m; 21:00 arrives 24:03; 22:50 and 23:20 at ₩26,000; regular ₩16,700, deluxe ₩21,700, premium ₩28,200
- Yangyang → Dong Seoul timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-18)other — 24 buses a day, 07:00 to 20:50; last departures 19:10, 20:00 and 20:50 (arrives 23:06); 2 h 00 m to 3 h 06 m
What we could not confirm
- No closing report or visitor total for the 16–18 October 2026 edition had been published as of 19 October 2026; that it ran as planned is assumed from the KTO listing and pre-festival reports. The organizer's site (yyfestival.com) was not opened.
- The 2025 song-i festival's end date (12 October) and its 27th-edition number come from a blog; news confirms only the 10 October opening. The 2025 visitor figure differs between the blog (about 100,000) and MTN (about 130,000).
- KTO's overview calls 2026 the first merged edition, but 2023 and 2024 were also run jointly as the Song-i Salmon Festival; how the organizers count editions after the merger is unclear.
- Whether the song-i festival skipped 2020 and 2021 (likely for COVID-19) was not verified; firstHeld 1997 rests on KTO's overview.
- Session times for the treasure hunt and salmon catching, and the exact forest site of the 2026 treasure hunt (MTN names the Songi Valley Natural Recreation Forest area), were not found.
- Walking distance from Yangyang bus terminal to the riverside grounds, and any shuttle between the grounds and the forest site, were not confirmed.
- Whether foreign visitors can book on the Go Go Yangyang app or festival website without a Korean phone number is not stated.
- Return buses to Seoul Express are scheduled at 3 h 03 m against 2 h 19 m outbound, and the late-night ₩26,000 fare looks like a surcharge; both come from a third-party mirror of the national feed.
- Contact numbers differ: KTO lists 033-671-3803, a blog gives 033-671-7888 for the Yangyang Culture Foundation.
- Japanese and Chinese names were not found on a KTO or official foreign-language page.
- Last buses back from Yangyang to Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Dong Seoul on the festival dates under the timetables in force those days.
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-20 — Dong Seoul–Yangyang bus fares updated from the October 2026 timetable (deluxe ₩19,900–20,100, premium ₩26,100, regular ₩21,600 on the slower route). · 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.
