Gwangju Kimchi Festival

The festival information below is from the previous (2025) festival; details for the 2026 festival are being updated.

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City has long been a land of flavor, blessed by nature where the plains spreading along the Yeongsan River meet mountains, fields and sea. Among its treasures, its kimchi holds the richest flavors and sentiment — so much so that Jeolla kimchi and Gwangju kimchi are proper nouns in their own right. Gwangju kimchi is characterized by generous seasoning: assorted vegetables, anchovy fish sauce, glutinous-rice paste and whole sesame seeds among them. Choosing fresh ingredients and preparing them with care, kimchi-making in the most basic way, and adding the touch of practiced hands on top of that — this is the special recipe of Gwangju kimchi. The Gwangju World Kimchi Festival is a citizens' experience ground where Korea's indigenous food culture and tradition meet in kimchi, a festival for everyone to enjoy together as Korea's flagship kimchi festival. It is a festival of real substance, where trade and promotion between kimchi producers and consumers happen side by side.