Photo zone with the 2026 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival sign and mascots

QR Codes Replace the Queue at the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival, Oct. 23-25 (Free)

Published Oct 18, 2026

Last year 80,000 people showed up on day one and buying a roll felt like a sport. This year the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival comes back with QR ordering. Entry is free.

80,000 people on day one

Reports say the 2025 festival prepared 100,000 rolls and still drew 80,000 visitors on the first day alone. Each booth had to cap buyers at four rolls.

So this year Gimcheon City has changed how people queue, and stretched the schedule from two days to three.

Festival visitors filling a park with autumn foliage

Phone instead of a line

The big change is QR ordering: pick your gimbap and pay on your phone, using a system built with KakaoPay. Staffed kiosk booths are there for people less comfortable with digital devices.

The grounds grow too, with the Eco-Friendly Ecological Park joining Jikji Culture Park and Sasimdaesa Park. Expect five information booths (one with interpreters for foreign visitors), luggage storage and a dedicated Kakao Map.

Sixty kinds of gimbap

Gimcheon City says around 60 kinds will be served: gimbap-factory rolls, regional oddities and winners of the Cook-King contest. The gold-prize recipe may even reach CU convenience stores nationwide.

After eating there is gimbap art, a gimbap train and a shop selling goods of the mascot Kkodali.

Getting there

The trip to the venue is the real challenge. About 60 shuttle buses run from three stops: the Gimcheon Sports Town parking lot, Gimcheon-Gumi Station and Gimcheon Station. A Sopung Taxi from the stops costs 5,000-8,000 won.

Kakao T runs direct shuttles from Seoul (Jamsil, Sadang, Seoul Station), Daejeon City Hall Station, Daegu Banwoldang, Gwangju Central Bus Terminal and Busan Seomyeon. Book through the shuttle menu in the app and riders get two Kkodali goods and one gimbap roll.