Gwangju Kimchi Festival: A Delicious Dive Into Jeolla’s Boldest Flavors
Last Updated on January 6, 2026
When it comes to foodie celebrations, Korea has a ton and the townie fun that they entail is worth making the trip when you hear about one. One of the most popular food festivals in Korea is of course in celebration of that iconic side dish known as kimchi. You might think you already know all there is to know about kimchi, but visit the Gwangju Kimchi Festival (광주김치축제) and you’ll not only get to taste Korea’s most iconic fermented dish, but you’ll also get to celebrate the cabbage concoction that graces every table in the country at meal time.
Head to Gwangju Korea in the autumn and you will want to make sure the Gwangju Kimchi Festival is on your travel itinerary:
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Basic Info
Address: 111 Naebang-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 서구 내방로 111)
Directions: To get to Gwangju, take a KTX train to Gwangju Songjeong Station. From Seoul this would take around 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take an intercity bus. From Seoul, this would take around 3.5 hours.
When: Annually in autumn, usually late October to early November.
Admission: Free
What Makes Gwangju Kimchi Special?
Jeolla cuisine has a reputation, big flavors, generous seasoning, and dishes made with real heart. Their kimchi follows that tradition, it’s bold, salty, aromatic, and comforting. If you’re a newbie to kimchi, what you need to know is that there are not only different varieties of kimchi, but kimchis from different regions also taste different so you need to taste test everywhere you go.
Gwangju kimchi is known for:
- A generous mix of vegetables like cabbage, radish, garlic, and wild greens
- Hearty seasoning made with glutinous rice porridge, anchovy sauce, and ground red pepper
- A rich aroma and savory depth that hits differently from Seoul-style kimchi
- Texture and flavor created by truly fresh ingredients sourced from Jeolla’s plains, seas, and farmlands
There’s a saying in Jeolla: “Jeolla-do food is an art of taste.” After spending an evening eating your way through the kimchi offerings at the Gwangju Kimchi Festival, you’ll feel that.
What To Expect at the Gwangju Kimchi Festival
The most important thing to know is that you’ll want to go hungry. Here’s what you want to look for.
Thousand People’s Table (천인밥상)
Tables all lined up invite people to come up shoulder to shoulder to sample a ton of different kimchis and purchase the ones that speak to you. Expect Jeolla-style kimchi, seasonal kimchi varieties, and friendly ajjummas insisting you come up and try just a little more. There will be lines for the most popular kimchis. That’s a good sign though. Follow the ajjummas and eat what they eat, buy what they buy.
Kimchi Experience School
If you want to get hands-on, head to the Kimchi school tents where you can get suited up and learn the basics of kimchi-making. It’s a super simple introductory experience, but if you want some of your own fresh kimchi to take home, saunter up to the tables and jump in to partake. It’s great for kids, foreigners, and kimchi-beginners.
Want to learn how to make kimchi? There are classes available in Seoul too:
- Korean Kimchi Class at Seoul Kimchi Academy
- A great introductory kimchi class in a cooking studio in the Bukchon Hanok Village.
- Book this experience on Klook
- Learn to Make 4 Types of Kimchi in Mangwon
- Not just one, but four types of kimchi will be taught in this class including two cabbage kimchis (배추김치), a raddish kimchi (깍두기김치), and a cucumber kimchi (오이소박).
- Book this experience on Viator
Kimchi Masters & Their Delicious Food
One of the major highlights after taste testing a bunch of kimchi is actually going full fledge foodie and eating as much as you can. The festival invites some of best restaurants and chefs around to share their dishes so go hungry.
After perusing the long list of options and ordering, head over to the stall of your choice and wait for your delicious dish to dine on. It took us 10 minutes to decide what we wanted because there was so much great food to sup on.
Watch Cooking Shows & Performances
Once you pick up your food, find a table. In our experience, the tables are shared so if there are seats available, you can sit there. Just kindly ask the people sitting on the other side. Performances and cooking shows will take place on a stage and there’s everything from traditional Korean music to trot and well-known chefs to check out.
I love visiting the super local festivals. There’s always good food and great people to meet. Have fun if you’re in Gwangju in the autumn!
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