Yangdong Back to the Market (BACK TO THE Market) Hongtak Festa

From November 12 to 14, 2026, the Yangdong Back to the Past Hongtak Festa will be held at Gwangju Yangdong Market, with free admission. The 2026 announcement does not state whether advance reservations are required. Unlike the 2nd Yangdong Tongmaek Festival held at the same market in 2024, which was introduced around beer and chicken, this event features skate, traditional liquor from the Gwangju area, and a makgeolli booth offering cups for 1,000 won each.

The 2026 Hongtak Festa brings together merchants’ associations from seven markets

The 2026 event involves the merchants’ associations of seven markets, including Yangdong Market, Susijang Market, Yangdong Bokgae Arcade, Gyeongyeol-ro Market, Dried Seafood Market, and Dakjeon-gil Market. The festival’s main ingredients are skate from Yangdong Market and traditional liquor from the Gwangju area, with Hongtak food booths and traditional makgeolli booths from Jeonnam and Gwangju in operation.

Press photographs of the 2nd Yangdong Tongmaek Festival held at the same market in 2024 showed merchant performances and citizens enjoying beer and chicken. This Hongtak Festa is not the same edition of that event; it is presented as a separate event combining skate with regional traditional liquor.

Explore Yangdong Market at 238 Cheonbyeonjoa-ro and its five sections together

The event venue address is Yangdong Market, 238 Cheonbyeonjoa-ro, Seo-gu, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City. Materials related to Yangdong Market distinguish Yangdong Bokgae Arcade Market, Yangdong Dakjeon-gil Market, Yangdong Susan Market, and Yangdong Dried Seafood Market as separate market sections, so it is worth checking all of these names on a map when planning your festival route.

The 2026 event announcement does not provide information on subway stations, bus routes, or walking times from stations or terminals outside Gwangju, nor does it disclose the locations or fees of temporary shuttle buses and parking lots. Since daily operating hours and the last available transportation have also not been confirmed, it is impossible to determine from the current information alone whether a day trip is feasible.

1,000-won makgeolli and Ahn Yu-seong’s culinary show shape the Hongtak route

Admission to the venue is free, but local Gwangju-area makgeolli, including Mudeungsan makgeolli and Bia makgeolli, can be sampled at the 1,000-won makgeolli booth for 1,000 won per cup. Hongtak food booths and a skate culinary experience will also operate, and receipt cashback allows visitors to receive Onnuri gift certificates and skate culinary experience coupons.

The opening ceremony theme is “Yangdong Market United as One Through Hongtak.” The stage lineup includes the Heung-Buja singing and dance contest, celebratory performances by trot singers and local performance groups, line dancing and percussion performances, and busking at the busking zone. The 2026 program also includes a Hongtak platter competition, master chef Ahn Yu-seong’s “Skate and Orchestra” culinary show, an EDM DJ dance party, and a stamp event.

Exact performance times for each program and the list of performers for 2026 have not yet been announced. It is also unclear whether English signs, leaflets, or interpretation services will be provided. Travelers who need to select stage programs by reading Korean titles should therefore check the program schedule on the day of the event.

For the November 2026 Hongtak Festa, check return travel and payment conditions first

The purchase amount requirements and payment limits for receipt cashback, as well as the quantities of Onnuri gift certificates and skate culinary experience coupons, have not been disclosed. Even though admission is free, makgeolli and booth activities incur separate costs, so visitors planning to claim cashback should keep their purchase receipts.

The program may not suit travelers who want to avoid stage-centered schedules such as the EDM DJ dance party and singing and dance contest and simply explore the market quietly. Information about wheelchair and stroller accessibility, rainy-weather operation and cancellation criteria, and traffic controls has also not been confirmed. Travelers for whom these conditions are important should check the official event announcement for schedule, return travel, and accessibility information before departing on November 12, 2026.

• What can I eat and drink at the Hongtak Festa? — You can find Hongtak food booths, a skate culinary experience, and traditional makgeolli from Jeonnam and Gwangju, including Mudeungsan makgeolli and Bia makgeolli.
• How is the 1,000-won makgeolli sold? — Local Gwangju-area makgeolli is served for sampling at the 1,000-won makgeolli booth at 1,000 won per cup.
• What can I receive if I bring my receipt? — Receipt cashback provides Onnuri gift certificates and skate culinary experience coupons.
• Is the beer and chicken event shown in photographs of the 2024 Yangdong Tongmaek Festival this Hongtak Festa? — No. The 2nd Yangdong Tongmaek Festival in 2024 and the 2026 Hongtak Festa centered on skate and traditional liquor are different events.