Make kimchi from 100% Korean highland cabbage grown above 500 m in Pyeongchang?! 🏔️ The 2026 Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival runs November 4–16 — online reservations open October 20, from KRW 69,000 per 10 kg! Full guide: booking steps, Ilpum vs. Premium differences, seasoning ingredients, and courier delivery. 🥬
※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival takes place in Gangwon Province, where napa cabbage grows at elevations above 500 metres. Every ingredient used — cabbage, radish, green onion, chili pepper — is 100% Korean-grown, with domestic sourcing for items not produced locally in Pyeongchang. Hygiene supplies, kimchi bags, and cardboard boxes are all provided on-site, so you can arrive empty-handed. 🌿
Online reservations open October 20, and walk-in registration is also accepted (30% of total capacity). Premium kimjang experience — using deep-sea water salt — is reserved exclusively for pre-booked participants.
Full details on schedule, pricing, seasoning ingredients, and courier delivery below. Based on official announcements as of October 8, 2026.
The official website is in Korean only. Your browser’s translate feature (e.g., Chrome → Translate) works well for checking dates and reservation details.
Reserve via Official Site (Korean)
📊 Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival at a Glance
A hands-on kimchi-making festival using 100% Korean highland ingredients grown above 500 m in Pyeongchang
Online reservations and walk-in registration both accepted. Hygiene supplies, kimchi bags, and cardboard boxes provided on-site. Completed kimchi can be shipped by courier. Based on official 2026 announcements.
Festival Period: Wednesday, November 4 – Monday, November 16, 2026 (13 days)
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (walk-in registration closes 4:00 PM)
Venue: Jinbu-myeon Odaecheon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province — Pyeongchang Trout Festival Grounds
Online Reservations Open: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Phone Reservations: 033-336-4000 (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Admission: No separate entry fee (cost is per kimchi package)
Online reservations must be completed at least 5 days before your intended visit. The Premium kimjang experience is for pre-booked participants only.
Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival Key Info
Wednesday, November 4 – Monday, November 16, 2026
Ilpum (Standard) KRW 69,000 / 10 kg (approx. USD 52) · Premium KRW 79,000 / 10 kg (approx. USD 59) · Altari (radish kimchi) — inquire separately. The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival provides pre-salted cabbage and seasoning; you mix on-site.
Online reservations open October 20 / Max 80 kg per person / Walk-in accepts 30% of total capacity
Reservations & Walk-In Registration: How to Book
Online Reservation
The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival online reservation system opens Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at gimjang700.co.kr. Account registration is required before booking. Complete your reservation at least 5 days before your intended visit date — meaning if you want to attend on November 4 (the opening day), your booking must be confirmed by October 30. Select your visit date, time slot, and quantity, then pay online. One person may book up to 80 kg (excluding altari kimchi). The name on the payment must match the name on the reservation exactly.
Phone reservations are available at 033-336-4000 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, where staff will guide you through the process.
Walk-In Registration
The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival reserves 30% of total capacity for walk-in participants. Walk-in registration is handled at the festival grounds ticket booth on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of visit. Walk-in registration closes at 4:00 PM. The Premium kimjang experience (KRW 79,000 / approx. USD 59 per 10 kg) is not available for walk-in — pre-booking only.
Pricing & Package Comparison
The 2026 Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival offers three packages. Here’s what each includes.
| Category | Ilpum (Standard) | Premium | Altari Kimchi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contents | Pre-salted cabbage 7 kg + seasoning 3 kg | Pre-salted cabbage 7 kg + seasoning 3 kg | Pre-salted altari radish 5 kg + seasoning 2 kg |
| Price | KRW 69,000 (approx. USD 52) | KRW 79,000 (approx. USD 59) | Inquire separately |
| Salt Type | Sea salt (天日鹽) | Deep-sea water salt (600 m depth, East Sea) | — |
| Walk-In Available | Yes | No (reservation only) | Yes |
| 50 kg+ Bonus | 2 packs Daegwallyeong Hanwoo beef soup (while supplies last) | 2 packs Daegwallyeong Hanwoo beef soup (while supplies last) | Not applicable |
| Booking Limit | Max 80 kg per person | Max 80 kg per person | Separate |
1. Ingredients & Seasoning: 3 Things to Know About 100% Korean Sourcing
What “100% Korean” Means at This Festival
The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival’s defining feature is ingredient traceability. Cabbage, radish, chili pepper, and green onion all come from farms at elevations above 500 metres in Pyeongchang — the same highlands that produce Korea’s most prized napa cabbage during the cool growing season. For ingredients Pyeongchang does not produce locally (salted shrimp, fish sauce, salt), the organizers source from major domestic producers through the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation or the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, according to official announcements.
The seasoning mix includes radish, chili powder, garlic, ginger, salted shrimp, anchovy fish sauce, green onion, red mustard greens, glutinous rice paste, a small amount of white sugar, spring onion, and a small amount of salt. The recipe is calibrated to let the natural cabbage flavor come through — not overly salty or spicy. Guests may bring their own fresh shrimp or additional salted seafood to customize the flavor.
On-Site Supplies and Courier Delivery
The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival provides latex gloves, arm sleeves, hair caps, kimchi bags, and cardboard boxes at no extra charge. No preparation is needed — arrive as you are. Once you finish mixing, you can carry the kimchi home or ship it from the on-site courier counter. Each mixing table accommodates up to six people; groups larger than six should book additional tables.
💡 Agoda lists guesthouses and pensions near Jinbu-myeon — book early so you can arrive the night before and make a relaxed morning of the festival.
Note: the Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival does not sell pre-salted cabbage or finished kimchi as standalone products. The experience itself is the product. If you only need pre-salted cabbage, the official website lists participating farms where separate purchases may be arranged.
Where to Eat & Stay in Pyeongchang
On-Site Food
The festival grounds offer more than kimchi-making. Traditional pork bossam (수육, slow-boiled pork slices paired with fresh kimchi) is one of the signature on-site dishes — a classic pairing with freshly made kimchi. Jinbu-style dumplings (만두), traditionally filled with pungent mustard greens (갓, gat) and aged kimchi and served in a Daegwallyeong beef broth, are another local specialty. Simpler options such as ramyeon, fish cake, sundae (Korean sausage), and meomil makgeolli (buckwheat rice wine, a Pyeongchang regional specialty) are also available at the grounds.
The on-site agricultural produce market sells items including potatoes, radish, cabbage, apples, and mountain-grown ginseng (산양삼) at competitive prices.
Accommodation Near Jinbu-myeon
Jinbu-myeon sits adjacent to Odaesan National Park and Woljeongsa Temple. Search “Jinbu pension” or “Pyeongchang motel” on Booking.com or Trip.com for date-by-date rate comparisons. November is peak autumn foliage season in Gangwon Province, so accommodation demand rises alongside the festival — early booking is strongly advisable.
Reserve at Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival (Korean)
6. 5 Tips for Foreign Visitors
Book at Least 5 Days Before Your Visit
Online reservations must be finalised at least 5 days before your intended visit date. If you want to attend on November 4 (opening day), your booking must be confirmed by October 30 — which is 10 days after reservations open on October 20. Decide your preferred date in advance and book the moment the system opens.
Premium Experience Requires a Reservation
The Premium kimjang package (KRW 79,000 / approx. USD 59 per 10 kg) uses cabbage pre-salted with deep-sea water extracted from 600 metres below the East Sea off Goseong County, Gangwon Province. This option is available only through pre-booking — online or by phone. Walk-in participants can only choose the Ilpum (Standard) or Altari packages.
50 kg+ Bonus: Daegwallyeong Hanwoo Beef Soup
Purchase 50 kg or more of either Ilpum or Premium, and you receive 2 packs of Daegwallyeong Hanwoo (Korean beef) soup on-site, while supplies last. This is worth noting for larger family groups or anyone planning a substantial kimjang batch. Confirm availability with staff before finalising your quantity.
Bring Extra Seasonings if You Have Preferences
The festival provides a standard seasoning mix. You may bring your own fresh shrimp or additional salted seafood to personalise the flavour. For any queries about bringing extra ingredients, call 033-336-4000 (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) before your visit.
First Time Making Kimchi? Local Experts Are On-Site
Experienced local residents are stationed at the mixing tables throughout the festival to demonstrate and assist. First-timers are welcome. Each table seats up to six people, making it a practical setup for family groups. This is particularly useful for foreign visitors who may be attempting kimchi-making for the first time.
💡 Trip.com offers discounts on KTX tickets! Compare prices and travel to Gangwon-do easily.
The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival is experience-first: the goal is making kimchi together, not just buying it. Families who come together tend to leave with both kimchi and a lasting memory. October 20 reservations open — plan ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Walk-in registration covers only 30% of total capacity and is first-come, first-served — there is no guarantee of a spot, and you cannot choose a specific time. Reservations secure your preferred date and time, and the Premium kimjang package (KRW 79,000 / approx. USD 59 per 10 kg) is exclusively available to pre-booked participants. Online reservations open October 20, 2026; complete your booking at least 5 days before your intended visit.
A. Yes. An on-site courier counter handles delivery arrangements. Kimchi bags and cardboard boxes are provided at no extra charge. You can also carry the kimchi home yourself.
A. The Ilpum package (KRW 69,000 / approx. USD 52 per 10 kg) uses cabbage pre-salted with standard sea salt. The Premium package (KRW 79,000 / approx. USD 59 per 10 kg) uses cabbage pre-salted with deep-sea water extracted from 600 metres below the East Sea off Goseong County. Premium is available by reservation only — walk-in registration does not qualify.
A. The Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival runs from Wednesday, November 4 through Monday, November 16, 2026 — 13 days in total. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; walk-in registration closes at 4:00 PM. The venue is Jinbu-myeon Odaecheon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province — Pyeongchang Trout Festival Grounds.
More to Explore
If you love seafood festivals in the Busan area, also check out our guide below.
Heading to Pyeongchang by express bus or intercity coach? Check the timetable in advance — note that this page is in Korean, so your browser’s translate feature will help.
The Premium package’s deep-sea water salt is a genuine differentiator — not a marketing gimmick. If you’re already making the trip to Pyeongchang and want the most distinctive version of highland kimchi, booking Premium from October 20 is the way to go. Add the on-site pork bossam and a walk through Odaesan National Park, and you have a full autumn day.
Source: Pyeongchang Highland Kimjang Festival official website (gimjang700.co.kr), based on October 2026 announcements.
Festival, travel, and event information sourced from official materials.
We work to deliver accurate, up-to-date information based on the latest official announcements.
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