Geumsan World K-Insam Festival
Oct 2 – Oct 11, 2026 · Chungcheongnam-do
Overview
Held in Geumsan, Chungcheongnam-do, long known as the home of ginseng with a history spanning more than 1,500 years, the Geumsan World K-Insam Festival invites visitors of all ages to experience ginseng in every form. The festival features hands-on programs such as ginseng digging, red ginseng facial mask treatments, red ginseng foot baths, traditional ginseng culture experiences, and the International Ginseng Trade Fair, along with opportunities to shop for ginseng products at reasonable prices. Across the festival grounds, visitors can also enjoy healthy dishes made with ginseng and medicinal herbs. Held annually since 1981, the festival has become one of Korea’s leading industry-based festivals. It has been named one of Korea’s Top Cultural Tourism Festivals by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism 10 times and was selected as an Asian Specialty Festival by IFEA World in 2024. Today, the Geumsan World K-Insam Festival continues to grow as a global festival enjoyed by visitors from Korea and beyond.
Why go
Geumsan has been Korea's ginseng heartland for more than 1,500 years, and this festival lets visitors experience that heritage firsthand through hands-on programs like ginseng digging and red ginseng treatments. Held annually since 1981, it is a nationally recognised event, named a Top Cultural Tourism Festival by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ten times and selected as an Asian Specialty Festival by IFEA World in 2024.
Getting there from Seoul
Take an intercity or express bus from a Seoul bus terminal (such as Seoul Express Bus Terminal or Central City Terminal) directly to Geumsan; alternatively, ride the KTX from Seoul to Daejeon and continue to Geumsan by local bus or taxi. From the Geumsan bus terminal, the festival venue at Geumsan World Insam Expo Square is a short taxi or local bus ride away.
Tips
- Ginseng products sold at the festival make lightweight, easy-to-pack souvenirs.
- Sample ginseng and medicinal herb dishes at the festival grounds to try the region's specialty cuisine.
- Entry is free, but individual programs such as red ginseng foot baths or ginseng digging may have separate fees, so check on-site details before joining.
Best for: wellness travelers, food lovers, families, cultural tourists.
Program
Ginseng Digging, Red Ginseng Foot Baths, Ginseng King Contest, Insamjejeon (Ginseng Harvest Ritual)
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
Other festivals in Chungcheongnam-do
Daejeon
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Daejeon
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Yeongdong Nangye Korean Traditional Music Festival
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The Yeongdong Nangye Korean Traditional Music Festival is an annual performing arts festival dedicated to gugak, Korea’s traditional music and one of Yeongdong-gun’s most treasured cultural assets. The festival also honors the musical legacy of Nangye Park Yeon, one of Korea’s most renowned traditional musicians, while contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional performing arts. Building on the achievements of the 2025 Yeongdong World Traditional Music & Arts Expo, the 57th festival seeks to introduce gugak, a treasured element of Korea's cultural heritage, to a wider global audience and contribute to a new wave of global interest in Korean culture. As Korea’s only festival dedicated to traditional Korean music, it offers a wide range of performances and hands-on programs that reinterpret traditional performing arts for contemporary audiences. Through programs that reflect the unique character of Yeongdong, the festival also helps transform local cultural resources into a tourism assets. At the same time, it encourages community participation, enhances cultural engagement among residents, and serves as a vibrant celebration of local unity.
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site