Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Road Coffee Festival

Instead of a plane, the Gyeongchun Line: a 1.1 km coffee stroll through the city

I wondered if there was really a festival in Seoul where an entire street could be filled with nothing but coffee, and it turns out there is, right in Gongneung-dong. The Gyeongchun Line Forest Path, built on the site of the old Gyeongchun Line railway, stretches the aroma of coffee along the former rail corridor for 1.1 km. The Gyeongchun Gongneung Forest Path Coffee Festival I visited is set up so you can slowly walk past booths lined up from Gongneung Station to the Dongbu Apartment intersection and on to the Gyeongchun Line Forest Path. The 2026 event is the 4th edition, held over two days on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. The area around Dokkaebi Market, adjacent to the old Gyeongchun Line railway, is an alley business district densely packed with cafes and restaurants, so even after the festival ends, the whole neighborhood feels like a coffee town. What makes this festival a bit different is that it is held every year to help grow the alley economy by revitalizing the cafe culture that naturally emerged in Gongneung-dong.

Embarking on a world coffee journey with tasting tickets instead of a passport

The most fascinating part was how the concept of a "world coffee journey" actually works. Embassies from coffee-producing countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and El Salvador set up booths in the Global Zone and introduce their coffee and culture directly. At the Kenya booth, they even showed a performance of brewing coffee in the traditional way. On top of that, there are local Nowon cafes, dessert booths, and well-known cafes from all over the country. In 2026, nationally recognized cafes such as Bohieman in Gangneung, Mi-gok Warehouse in Gunsan, Owolui Forest in Cheonan, A Man Who Knows a Little About Coffee in Daegu, and Santiago in Goheung will participate. Normally, you'd have to travel to each region to taste these coffees, but here you can compare and drink them all on one street, which in itself feels like a trip for coffee lovers.

A day for foreign travelers — starting at Exit 2 of Gongneung Station

Getting there is easy. Get off at Gongneung Station on Subway Line 7 and come out through Exit 2, and the festival street starts right there. With no transfer needed and just one ride on Line 7, it's easy to reach, and because the booths are set up from right in front of the station, you won't get lost. There is no separate admission fee, but the key to enjoying the coffee is first understanding the tasting system. In previous editions, if you bought a ticket at the information booth for 5,000 won, it could be exchanged for three tasting coupons and one exchange voucher. Since you hand the tasting coupon to the booth you want and receive the coffee, I recommend heading to the information booth first when you arrive. Payment was also available through the Gongneung-dong 101 app for purchasing tasting coupons, and interestingly, Seoul Pay points collected through Wrist Doctor 9988+ could be used at festival booths. However, payment methods may differ by booth, so bringing a little cash will give you peace of mind.

During the day, walk the forest path with coffee and desserts in hand, and in the evening head to the main stage in front of Gongneung Station. At the 2026 stage, Norazo, Park Sang-min, and Gu Chang-mo will appear on June 13, and Ailee and Ulala Session will appear on June 14. Between the stage performances, the World Coffee Competition (WCC) and a local coffee competition where citizens vote directly are also held, so it is fun to watch real contests such as the barista, latte art, and tasting finals. Although there is not constant English interpretation, the tasting-to-drinking format is simple enough, and communication with embassy booth staff in English was sufficient, so it was easy to enjoy without much hassle. Even though the event ends around 8 p.m., you can simply take the subway from Gongneung Station, so there is almost no need to worry about your way home.

Things to know before you go, so you are less likely to be caught off guard

Since it is mid-June, it gets quite hot during the day. In previous editions, the event went ahead in sweltering weather, with rest areas such as camping chairs, tables, and tents set up throughout the venue, but it's still a good idea to bring a hat and water. This festival is run with an eco-friendly approach, so it uses reusable containers and eco-friendly tableware, limits disposable items, and gives a 500-won discount on coffee if you bring a tumbler. Just putting one small tumbler in your bag can save you money and shorten the lines. There are really a lot of people. Reports in 2025 said nearly 100,000 people came, so the lines for popular cafe booths are long between 2 and 5 p.m. on weekends. If you want to get around more quietly, aim for right after opening in the morning. The hands-on programs include making drip bags, coffee-pulp keychains, and flower pots, so there is plenty for families to enjoy, though some experiences have a separate materials fee, which you can confirm on site.

Recommended for these travelers

This is perfect for people who love coffee and want to walk through the real neighborhood atmosphere of Seoul rather than tourist spots. I especially liked that you can taste coffees from countries around the world on one street and then watch free singer performances in the evening with no admission fee. A short coffee trip along the Gyeongchun Line Forest Path instead of taking a plane is definitely worth setting aside a day for in Seoul in June.