Gimcheon Gimbap Festival 2026: Bobby Kim, Jadoo & Cheeze – Amazing 3-Day Free Guide

Singers whose names literally translate to gimbap ingredients, all on one stage. 🍙 The 2026 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival runs October 23–25 across three parks in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province — 60+ varieties of gimbap, live performances by Bobby Kim, Jadoo, and Cheeze, and the Kkodallee goods shop. Shuttle routes from Seoul, Busan, and beyond, plus 6,600 parking spots — here’s the full guide. 🎤

※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival is a festival whose very name is a punchline — and an inspired one at that. 🍙 In Korean, “Bobby Kim” sounds like the English words for gimbap rolled rice, “Jadoo” (자두) is Korean for plum, a common gimbap filling, and “Cheeze” (치즈) is cheese — one of gimbap’s best-loved varieties. The lineup is a deliberate, witty wordplay that began at the inaugural edition in 2024 and has since become one of the festival’s most shareable selling points.

Now in its third year, the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival has expanded from two days to three and spread across three distinct parks: Jikji Culture Park, Samyeongdaesa Park, and the Eco-Friendly Ecology Park. Around 100,000 visitors attended in 2024, 150,000 in 2025 — and the festival ranked No. 1 among 254 large festivals in the 2025–2026 Korea Festival Evaluation. Based on official announcements as of October 13, 2026.

Official Festival Info (VisitKorea)

Gimcheon Gimbap Festival Key Info

Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25, 2026

Free entry / 60+ gimbap varieties + 4 award-winning cooking-contest gimbap on sale on-site / Bobby Kim, Jadoo & Cheeze each perform at 4:00 PM / Kkodallee goods shop open / Kakao T shuttle riders receive 2 Kkodallee items + 1 gimbap roll.
Open the Kakao T app → Shuttle → Local Festival category to book your seat in advance.

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1. Gimcheon Gimbap Festival Lineup: 3 Things to Know

Bobby Kim, Jadoo & Cheeze — Names That Are Gimbap

The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival performer lineup is not random — it’s a piece of wordplay that has become a national talking point. “Bobby Kim” sounds like the English phonetics of the Korean word gimbap (김밥 → 바비킴 is a stretch, but a beloved one); “Jadoo” (자두) is Korean for plum, a familiar filling; and “Cheeze” (치즈) is cheese gimbap, one of Korea’s go-to lunchbox staples. According to the organizers, this concept of casting performers whose names match gimbap ingredients has been maintained since the first festival in 2024.

All three artists perform on the main stage at Jikji Culture Park — the Gimbap Square — starting at 4:00 PM on their respective day. Before the headline sets, the bicycle music duo Dongmija performs busking at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM. On Saturday, October 24, Gimcheon-born comedian Park Youngjin (박영진) takes the stage as a special MC. Performance times and lineups are subject to change; check on-site notice boards on the day.

Fringe Stages and Gimbap Busking

Beyond the main stage, fringe performances and gimbap-themed busking run at smaller stages near the Peace Tower in Samyeongdaesa Park and inside the Eco-Friendly Ecology Park. For international visitors who want a more relaxed vibe away from the main crowd, the fringe stages offer a quieter entry point into the festival. The three parks are connected by walking paths — you can move between them on foot and catch a different atmosphere at each.

💡 Trip.com offers discounts on KTX tickets! Traveling from Seoul to Gimcheon (Gimcheon-Gumi Station)? Compare prices and book your train easily.

Gimcheon-Gumi KTX Station connects directly to the festival via shuttle (runs every 20 minutes, 14 buses). If you plan to stay for all three days or want to visit the nearby Jikjisa Temple — a Buddhist complex founded in 418 CE, with free admission — booking a local hotel in advance is a smart move. Agoda and Booking.com list accommodations in both Gimcheon and Gumi, and weekend rooms near the festival fill up early.

2. Dates, Venue & How to Get There

Getting to Gimcheon from Seoul and Incheon Airport

From Seoul Station, the KTX to Gimcheon-Gumi Station takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. From Incheon International Airport, take the Airport Railroad (AREX) to Seoul Station, then transfer to the KTX — total travel time is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Once at Gimcheon-Gumi Station, free festival shuttles depart every 20 minutes and drop off at Jikji 2nd Public Parking Lot, adjacent to the main festival grounds.

For visitors traveling by intercity express bus, Gimcheon Bus Terminal receives routes from Seoul (Gangnam), Busan, Daegu, and other major cities. Taxi from the terminal to the festival site takes approximately 20 minutes.

Kakao T Express Shuttles from Major Cities

The festival operates direct express shuttles via the Kakao T app from five departure cities. Seoul departures leave from Jamsil Station, Sadang Station, and Seoul Station; Daejeon from City Hall Station; Daegu from Banwoldang Station; Gwangju from Gwangju Central Bus Terminal; and Busan from Seomyeon Station. Book through the Kakao T app (셔틀 → Local Festival → 2026 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival). Shuttle riders receive 2 Kkodallee (꼬달이, the festival’s mascot character) goods items and 1 gimbap roll on arrival. Popular routes — especially from Seoul — may sell out early.

Self-Drive Parking

A total of 6,600 temporary parking spaces are available across four zones: Sports Town (2,585 spaces), Gimcheon-Gumi Station / Greenfuture Science Museum area (1,700 spaces), Gimcheon City Hall (300 spaces), and satellite lots in the Jirye, Bongsan, and Daehang areas. Each zone has its own shuttle route, so enter the exact parking lot name into your navigation — not just a general address — to avoid confusion. Shuttles for each zone run every 20–30 minutes. On October 23, shuttles begin at 10:00 AM; on October 24–25, they start at 8:00 AM. Return shuttles wind down around 6:20–6:30 PM.

Sopung Taxi (On-Demand Ride)

For smaller groups or visitors with mobility considerations, Sopung Taxi (소풍택시) is an on-demand tourist shuttle service available by app or phone call. Up to 4 passengers per ride. Flat fares: KRW 8,000 (approx. USD 6) from Gimcheon Station or Gimcheon-Gumi Station; KRW 5,000 (approx. USD 3.70) from the Sports Town parking area. No fixed schedule — request when you’re ready to move.

Official Festival Info (VisitKorea)

3. Gimbap & Food: 4 Steps for Foreign Visitors

Jikji Culture Park — Local Gimbap Square

The Gimbap Square at Jikji Culture Park is the local artisan hub. Booths from Gimcheon’s most-loved gimbap makers — including Golmokae, Oil Gimbap, and Yi Myeongsuk Gimbap — use regional ingredients such as Gimcheon rice, Girye black pork, and plum gochujang (a spicy fermented chili paste made with Korean plum). Gimcheon National University, Gyeongbuk Health College, and even Jikjisa Temple each present their own creative interpretations. A dessert zone and local specialty products zone are in the same area, making it easy to sample everything in one loop.

Samyeongdaesa Park — Regional Gimbap from Across Korea & Award-Winners

The Gimbap Cheongguk zone in Samyeongdaesa Park is where creativity peaks. Gimbap from across the country converges here: mentaiko-cucumber gimbap and 12-layer egg-roll abalone gimbap from Seoul; whole kimchi-hairtail gimbap from Busan; squid-ink myeongyi gimbap from Ulleungdo island; and patented saury-tuna gimbap from Ganghwado island, among dozens of others. The Cooking Contest zone sells all four award-winners from the 2026 Gimcheon Gimbap Cooking Contest: Gold (spicy stir-fried pepper gimbap with Gimcheon rice and Girye black pork), Silver (walnut-stuffed black pork grilled gimbap), Bronze (Chupungnyeong black pork katsu gimbap), and Excellence Award (cherry blossom gimbap). Quantities are limited — the Gold Award entry alone has drawn national attention as a future CU convenience store product. Morning visits are strongly recommended.

4. Kkodallee Goods & Festival Experiences

Kkodallee Goods Shop and Gimbap Art

The Kkodallee Goods Shop is set up near the Peace Tower in Samyeongdaesa Park. Six designs from the Kkodallee (꼬달이) mascot merchandise competition are produced as physical goods and sold on-site. Kkodallee photo zones are scattered throughout all three parks. At the Gimbap Art Experience Hall in Samyeongdaesa Park, visitors can take part in gimbap-themed creative workshops; the “Gimbap Roll & Gimbap Shot” corner lets you photograph the gimbap you make yourself. Note that Kkodallee-branded goods, especially limited-run items, have sold out at previous editions — arrive early if collecting merchandise is a priority.

Eco-Friendly Ecology Park — Gimbap Playground

Families traveling with children will want to plan extra time at the Gimbap Playground in the Eco-Friendly Ecology Park. The zone brings together a gimbap air bounce, gimbap arcade, gimbap maze, and a gimbap-themed ride-on train — all themed around the festival’s signature food. A Kkodallee cookie-making workshop also runs in the same area. The three parks are linked by walking paths, but the distances add up, so plan your routing in advance if you are visiting with young children.

5. Gimcheon Gimbap Festival vs. Other Korean Autumn Festivals at a Glance

6. 5 Tips for Foreign Visitors to the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival

Secure a Spot by 3:00 PM

All three headline performances begin at 4:00 PM. Given that 150,000 people attended in 2025, prime viewing positions go fast. The bicycle music duo Dongmija performs at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM — arriving for those sets and staying in position is the most efficient way to guarantee a good view for the headline act.

Book Kakao T Shuttles Before They Sell Out

Express shuttle seats from Seoul Jamsil Station — the most popular departure point — sell out quickly after going live. Check the Kakao T app as soon as your dates are confirmed and reserve immediately. Remember: shuttle riders receive 2 Kkodallee goods items and 1 gimbap roll, which adds real value to the ticket cost.

Visit Samyeongdaesa Park in the Morning

The award-winning cooking contest gimbap is sold in limited quantities. The Gold Award entry — spicy stir-fried pepper gimbap — has drawn particular attention as an upcoming CU convenience store product nationwide, so first-taste demand will be high. Hit Samyeongdaesa Park first thing, then work your way to the main stage for the afternoon performance.

Jikjisa Temple and the Peace Tower Are Worth the Detour

Jikjisa (직지사), one of Korea’s most historically significant Buddhist temples, was founded in 418 CE and sits immediately adjacent to the festival grounds. Admission is free; hours are 4:00 AM–6:00 PM. The Peace Tower (평화의 탑), standing 41.5 meters tall, is even more atmospheric in the evening when its lighting switches on. Both are best visited in the early morning or after the festival closes to avoid the afternoon crowd.

Confirm Your Parking Zone Before You Drive In

Each of the four parking zones operates its own shuttle route to the festival. Entering the wrong zone can add significant travel time. Enter the specific parking lot name — for example, “Sports Town Parking” or “Gimcheon-Gumi Station Parking” — into your navigation app rather than just the festival venue address. Lot closures can occur if capacity is reached, so identify a backup in advance.

💡 Booking.com and Agoda list hotels near Gimcheon-Gumi KTX Station — booking early is key, as weekend rooms near the festival sell out quickly.

For visitors staying the full three days or combining the festival with a visit to Jikjisa Temple and the surrounding area, a hotel in Gimcheon or Gumi is the most practical base. Agoda and Booking.com list accommodations across price ranges. Trip.com allows you to bundle a KTX ticket and hotel in a single search, which can help keep costs under control.

Frequently Asked Questions

More to Explore

Planning a weekend in Korea this October? The Iksan Ten Million Chrysanthemum Festival opens the same day and makes for a great pairing with a Jeonbuk-area autumn trip.

Heading to Gimcheon by KTX or express bus? Check the timetable in advance — note that this page is in Korean, so your browser’s translate feature will help.

Sources: Gimcheon City official announcements, Namu Wiki 2026 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival, Visit Korea official festival listing, MK EN (October 2026).