Yangdong Back to the Jang – Hongtak Festa

양동 백투더 장(BACK TO THE 장) 홍탁페스타

This festival celebrates Gwangju's signature flavors by uniting fermented skate (hongeo) from Yangdong Market and local traditional rice wines. Four days of festivities bring together seven merchant cooperatives around numerous pop-up restaurants and makgeolli bars, where you can sample famous regional varieties (Mudeungsan, Bia) for just 1,000 won. The program blends live music performances, culinary competitions led by acclaimed chefs, EDM shows and folk dances, while receipt-based promotions offer gift cards and gastronomic experiences. An authentic festival where culinary tradition and entertainment celebrate the living spirit of Gwangju's markets.

Dates: Nov 12, 2026 → Nov 14, 2026
Venue: 238 Cheonbyeon Jwa-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju · 🎨 Jeonnam-Gwangju
Price: Free

Practical information

Opening hours: 14:00~21:00
Exact location: Yangdong Market, Gwangju
Organiser: Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Small Merchants Association Promotion Agency, Integrated Special City of Gwangju-Jeollanam-do, Seo-gu District
Phone: 062-413-1271

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🎟️ How to book — Official event site

1
Most regional festivals are free entry
Korean municipalities fund a huge number of free festivals (flowers, food, light shows) — free entry is the norm, not the exception, sometimes with paid stalls or activities on site.
2
Check the event's official site
The link sits on the event's VisitKorea page — it's the most reliable source for the program, hours, and any last-minute changes.
3
Book via a Korean platform if a reservation is required
When a festival has paid premium activities or an attached concert, booking usually goes through NOL or YES24 — see the matching guide on this page.
4
Call 1330 when in doubt
Korea's tourism hotline answers in English, Chinese and Japanese, 24/7 — handy for confirming a time or address when the official site is Korean-only.

💡 Good to know

When a price shows as "see details", the organiser simply hasn't published one in advance: in almost all of those cases entry is free and only some on-site activities are paid. Bring a little cash — many stalls don't take cards.