Chuncheon Makguksu & Dakgalbi Festival

5 Days on the Gongjicheon Walking Trail: 2026 Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival

The 2026 Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival will be held for five days, from Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to Sunday, October 18, in the area around 586 Onui-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State, and the Gongjicheon walking trail. The festival inquiry telephone number is listed as 070-7576-1657. I felt that alternating between the heat of dakgalbi sizzling on iron plates and a cool bowl of makguksu while walking along Gongjicheon was the most distinctly Chuncheon-like scene at this festival. Official Website of the 2026 Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival

The main food hall will feature 15 Chuncheon dakgalbi restaurants and 8 makguksu restaurants. Dakgalbi will be sold at 9,900 won per serving and makguksu at 7,000 won per serving, making it easy to compare prices and choose what to eat. Performances by Chuncheon regional artists, invited entertainers, and audience-participation acts will continue on the main stage. The local F&B sales zone will feature 25 Chuncheon businesses, while 8 Chuncheon breweries will participate in the traditional liquor promotion and sales hall.

At the Farmers' Market, visitors can find agricultural products and processed goods from Chuncheon farms. In the Chuncheon Lake Garden, they can use photo zones and rest areas themed around the lake and nature. I liked that this was not simply an event where visitors quickly ate makguksu and dakgalbi before leaving, but one that connected a riverside walk and local foods in a single experience.

Why the 9-Minute Walk from Namchuncheon Station and the Makdak MBTI Are Welcome

The nearest railway station is Namchuncheon Station on the Gyeongchun Line, and the event site at 586 Onui-dong is listed as approximately a 9-minute walk away. In 2026, programs and shuttle bus services linked to Chuncheon attractions such as the Samaksan Cable Car, Legoland, and the Soyanggang Skywalk are also planned, making it easy to place the festival at the center of a one-day Chuncheon trip. Performance Venue Information Yonhap News

If you go with foreign friends, it is enjoyable even if you simply decide the order in which to eat. At the Chuncheon Makdak MBTI, visitors can receive festival-course recommendations based on their personality type, and they can take commemorative photos at the Makdak photo booth. Activities continue with character drawing, where drawings are brought to life through augmented reality; Magic Sand play; Bomnae Crew claw machines; the Makdak Horse Riding Experience in partnership with the Korea Racing Authority; and a makguksu cooking experience. Old Brass Wooden Playground operates with 20 types of eco-friendly wooden play activities.

The 2026 International Promotion Hall will consist of international exchange and festival promotion booths for foreign residents and tourists in Chuncheon. In 2025, international students and honorary interpreters participated in the International Hall, which operated four zones: a check-in information zone, an exchange-city experience zone, a world-food tasting zone, and a Chuncheon Story zone. However, English signs and interpretation hours for 2026 have not been separately announced, so it may be convenient to look for the International Promotion Hall first upon arrival. On-Site Article about the International Hall

It is easy to plan your meal budget based on 9,900 won for dakgalbi and 7,000 won for makguksu. In 2025, makguksu and dakgalbi at the event site were ordered and paid for by QR code, but it is a good idea to check the official notice before visiting to confirm the range of cash, card, and mobile payment options available in 2026. Around the festival site, Chuncheon Jungang Market is approximately 1 km away, the Ethiopian Korean War Memorial Hall is approximately 1 km away, and Gongjicheon Recreation Area is approximately 2 km away, making it easy to connect a walking route after a meal. 2025 Festival Leaflet Nearby Travel Destinations

Since this is an event that involves moving along the Gongjicheon walking trail, I would bring comfortable sneakers and a light outer layer suitable for standing for a long time. A small bag would also be useful, as your hands may become occupied while moving between iron-plate dishes, makguksu, traditional liquor, and the agricultural market.

Learning from the Movement of 300,000 Visitors in 2025: Navigating Gongjicheon

In 2025, more than 300,000 people visited the festival, which was held for four days from October 16 to 19. Insufficient parking spaces, restrooms, and rest areas, as well as noise from performances, were pointed out as inconveniences. Although plans have been announced to address the shortage of dining spaces and amenities in 2026, it would be wise to move at a relaxed pace during times when meals and performances overlap. MBC Gangwon Yeongdong Report

The Gongjicheon walking trail was crowded in 2025, with around 100 additional tables placed as the number of visitors increased. Therefore, upon arrival, it would be reassuring to first check where to eat in the main food hall and locate the restrooms, then move to the Lake Garden or activity zones after eating. In 2025, vehicle access to the Gongjicheon event site was restricted, and a visitor shuttle operated between the parking lot and Chuncheon KBS from 11:00 to 21:00. Since the exact stops and times for the temporary parking lot and shuttle in 2026 have not yet been finalized for public release, it would be best to prioritize the route from Namchuncheon Station and the shuttle rather than driving. 2025 Traffic Operations Report

The entire festival walking-trail area is smoke-free, and smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas. Food must be eaten in designated dining zones. Outside food may be brought in, but waste must be separated for disposal. Pets must be kept on a leash, and owners must carry waste bags; access to food sales and preparation areas is restricted. On crowded days, bring portable tissues and water. If you are with children, it was more relaxed to divide visits to the wooden playground and sand play area around meal times. Visitor Guidelines

9,900-Won Dakgalbi and 7,000-Won Makguksu: Chuncheon's Autumn Table

This festival is a good fit for foreign travelers who want to compare spicy iron-plate dakgalbi and refreshing makguksu in one place, as well as food travelers interested in local traditional liquor and agricultural products. There are also makguksu-making activities, horseback riding, augmented reality, and a wooden playground, making it a good destination even with friends who would find it disappointing to fill an entire itinerary with food alone.

From October 14 to 18, 2026, Gongjicheon will become an autumn table where visitors can walk, rest, and take photos centered around Chuncheon's two signature dishes. The simple sequence of refreshing your palate with a bite of makguksu before tasting a piece of dakgalbi seemed likely to leave the clearest memory of this city.