A drone light show AND a horror maze in Jeju this October — both free? 🎪 The 32nd Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival runs October 23–25, 2026, across Seogwipo’s historic downtown and the Cheonjiyeon Falls area, with street parades, a youth music competition, Running in Chilsimni, and non-stop flea markets. Here’s the full guide: drone show timing, how to join the running event, and transport from Jeju Airport. 🌙
※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival is Seogwipo City’s flagship autumn event, turning the historic downtown and the area around Cheonjiyeon Falls into a three-day open stage. 🎉 Now in its 32nd edition, the festival draws visitors with a drone light show tied to the opening ceremony, a full-city street parade, a youth performance competition, and a lineup of themed experiences running concurrently — all free to enter.
All information below is based on official announcements as of October 2026. Cheonjiyeon (천지연폭포, literally “Heaven and Earth Waterfall”) is one of Jeju’s three great waterfalls, located in the heart of Seogwipo’s old city center. The festival spreads across the falls parking lot and the surrounding streets, making the entire historic district the venue. Programs fall into four categories: main events, competition stages, themed experiences, and standing programs.
📊 Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival 2026 at a Glance
Free Entry · Drone Light Show · Horror Maze · Street Parade
The 32nd Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival runs three days across Seogwipo’s historic downtown and the Cheonjiyeon Falls parking lot area, with four program categories: main events, competitions, themed experiences, and standing programs. Some themed programs (Running in Chilsimni, Horror Maze) may require advance sign-up — confirm via the official site.
Dates: Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25, 2026
Venue: Cheonjiyeon Falls Parking Lot area, Seogwipo Historic Downtown, Jeju Island
Admission: Free
Getting There: Rental car from Jeju Airport (approx. 1 hour) or Seogwipo city bus — parking near the old downtown is limited during the festival, so staying within walking distance is the most practical option.
Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival 2026 Key Info
Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25, 2026
The 32nd Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival is Seogwipo’s largest free outdoor event, held across the historic downtown and Cheonjiyeon Falls area. Street parade, drone light show, Chilsimni Song Festival, horror maze, Running in Chilsimni, a flea market, and food trucks all run across three days. Check the official website for detailed timetables and registration for themed programs.
1. Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival 2026: 3 Things to Know
32 Years of Seogwipo’s Biggest Street Event
The Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival has been running since the early 1990s and has grown into the definitive autumn event for Seogwipo City. What sets it apart from typical Korean autumn festivals is its urban format — rather than a single enclosed venue, the entire historic downtown becomes the stage. Streets, open plazas, the Cheonjiyeon Falls area, and surrounding alleyways are all part of the festival grounds. There are no gates, no tickets, and no entrance queues. Visitors walk in, follow the sounds, and find their own path through the programming.
According to official announcements, the 2026 edition holds free admission across all main programs. Some themed experiences — Running in Chilsimni and the Chilsimni Horror Maze — may require advance registration due to capacity limits. Confirm details via the official website (70festival.com) before arriving.
Four Program Categories — What’s On
The Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival organizes its programming into four areas. Main programs include the street parade and the opening ceremony (with the drone light show). Competition programs feature the Youth Performance Festival and the Chilsimni Song Festival (가요제, a regional singing competition). Themed programs include Running in Chilsimni, Chilsimni Deoktem Day (득템 데이, a special deals event), a Pump Dance Competition, the Chilsimni Horror Maze, and a Chilsimni Exploration Team activity. Standing programs — running all three days — include the Chilsimni Mini Sports Meet, a flea market, and food trucks.
Drone Light Show: The Opening Night Highlight
The drone light show is linked to the opening ceremony on the first night of the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival. Hundreds of drones perform above Seogwipo’s downtown skyline — a visual sequence that the festival has become known for in recent years. The exact start time has not been confirmed as of October 2026; check 70festival.com or the festival’s official Instagram in the days leading up to October 23. Weather can affect drone show operations, so a schedule check on the day is also advisable.
💡 Klook offers rental car deals for Jeju Island — booking a car before arrival gives you flexibility to explore Seogwipo and other parts of Jeju across the festival weekend.
Seogwipo’s historic downtown is compact and walkable, but getting there from Jeju Airport requires either a rental car (approx. 1 hour, depending on traffic) or an intercity bus. October is peak autumn season in Jeju — rental car inventory runs short quickly. Pre-booking via Klook or Trip.com significantly reduces the risk of arriving without transport. Festival weekend traffic near the old downtown will be heavier than usual, so confirm parking availability at your accommodation before driving in.
2. Dates, Venue & How to Get to Seogwipo
Getting to Jeju and Seogwipo
Jeju Island is accessible by air from Seoul (Gimpo Airport) and Incheon International Airport. Flight time from Seoul is approximately 1 hour. Domestic flights from Gimpo to Jeju are frequent — fares vary by airline and booking timing, but searching on Trip.com or Expedia typically surfaces competitive options. From Incheon Airport, flights to Jeju are also widely available.
Once on Jeju, Seogwipo is approximately 40–60 km south of Jeju City, depending on the route. A rental car is the most common mode of transport for visitors exploring the island; the drive from the airport to Seogwipo takes roughly 45–60 minutes on clear roads. Intercity buses (600-series routes) also run between Jeju City and Seogwipo, though they take longer. During the festival weekend, parking near Cheonjiyeon Falls and the old downtown is expected to be tight — staying within the downtown area removes the parking challenge entirely.
Venue Layout
The Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival spreads across the Cheonjiyeon Falls parking lot and the historic downtown streets. There is no single enclosed entrance — visitors can join at any point along the festival route. The drone light show is best viewed from the open plaza areas near Cheonjiyeon Falls; arriving 30–60 minutes early to claim a good vantage point is recommended.
3. Tickets & Booking: 4 Steps for Foreign Visitors
Step 1 — Confirm Which Programs Need Sign-Up
General admission to the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival is free with no registration needed. However, Running in Chilsimni and the Chilsimni Horror Maze are capacity-limited themed programs that may require advance registration. Check the official website (70festival.com) for sign-up details — registration announcements are posted there first. If the page is in Korean, Chrome’s built-in translation handles it well.
Step 2 — Register for Running in Chilsimni
Running in Chilsimni (러닝 인 칠십리) is a festival running event through Seogwipo’s downtown streets — a popular program that fills quickly based on previous years. Participant numbers are limited; if registration is open, submit your application as soon as the window opens via the official website. Details including distance and route have not been confirmed as of October 2026.
Step 3 — Join the Horror Maze Early in the Evening
The Chilsimni Horror Maze (호러메이즈) runs primarily in the evening. Based on the festival structure, wait times build as the night goes on — joining earlier in the operating window reduces queuing. Check the official website for operating hours and confirm whether advance tickets are required.
Step 4 — Explore Deoktem Day and the Flea Market
Chilsimni Deoktem Day (득템 데이, roughly “score a deal day”) features special discounts and events from participating vendors. The flea market and food trucks run all three days with no registration needed — these are the most casual and flexible parts of the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival, easy to fold into any schedule.
4. Where to Eat & Stay Near Seogwipo
Seogwipo Historic Downtown Food Scene
The streets around Cheonjiyeon Falls and the old downtown are lined with restaurants serving Jeju specialties — Jeju black pork (흑돼지, Heuk-dwaeji), haemul (seafood), and Jeju-style pork noodle soup (고기국수, Gogi-guksu, a Jeju comfort dish of thick noodles in pork broth). Food trucks during the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival add more casual eating options throughout the venue. Peak dining times — early evening especially — will be competitive during the festival weekend, so eating before 6:00 PM or after 8:00 PM helps.
Accommodation in Seogwipo
October is high autumn season in Jeju, and the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival weekend will see strong demand for accommodation in the downtown area. Search “Seogwipo hotel” or “Cheonjiyeon Falls accommodation” on Agoda, Booking.com, or Trip.com. Mid-range guesthouses in Seogwipo’s downtown start around KRW 70,000–100,000 per night (approx. USD 51–73); hotels with sea views or closer to the festival grounds run higher. Booking well in advance is strongly advised.
Getting Around Without a Car
Staying within the Seogwipo historic downtown area means the festival venue is walkable, removing the parking challenge entirely. City buses run from Seogwipo Bus Terminal to Cheonjiyeon Falls and surrounding areas. If you plan to visit other parts of Jeju — Seongsan Ilchulbong (성산일출봉), Hallasan, or the east coast — a rental car booked via Klook or Trip.com is the practical choice.
5. Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival 2026 vs Jeju Other Autumn Events at a Glance
| Category | Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival | General Jeju Autumn Events |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Seogwipo historic downtown + Cheonjiyeon Falls area | Scattered across Jeju |
| Admission | Free | Varies by event |
| Highlight | Drone light show + street parade | Autumn foliage, hiking |
| Themed experiences | Horror maze · running event · Deoktem Day · song festival | Varies by event |
| Food & market | Flea market + food trucks (all 3 days) | Varies by event |
| Duration | October 23–25, 2026 (3 days) | Varies by event |
6. 5 Tips for Foreign Visitors to the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival 2026
Claim Your Drone Show Spot Early
The drone light show is the opening night centerpiece of the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival and draws large crowds. Open plazas near Cheonjiyeon Falls offer the widest views. Arriving 30–60 minutes before the confirmed start time gives you the best sightlines. The exact start time will be posted on 70festival.com and the festival’s official social channels — check the day before.
Running and Horror Maze Need Advance Confirmation
Running in Chilsimni and the Horror Maze are capacity-limited. Check the official site (70festival.com) immediately for sign-up status — if registration is open, submit without delay. Slots from past editions filled quickly. The page is in Korean, but Chrome’s translation function handles navigation effectively.
Use Public Transport or Stay Downtown
Parking near Seogwipo’s historic downtown during the festival is expected to be very limited. Staying within walking distance of the venue is the most practical solution. If driving from elsewhere on the island, locate public car parks near Cheonjiyeon Falls before arrival and check for operating hours.
Check the Song Festival and Youth Performance Schedule
The Chilsimni Song Festival and Youth Performance Festival (경연 프로그램, competition-style stage performances) are scheduled for specific dates and times. Check the official timetable on 70festival.com and plan your route around the performances you want to watch.
October Weather in Jeju — Be Prepared
October in Jeju is generally pleasant and clear, but typhoon activity and sudden wind or rain are possible. Outdoor programs — particularly the drone show — may be adjusted based on weather. Check 70festival.com and the festival’s official social media the evening before for any updates on October 23’s program.
💡 Klook and Trip.com both list Jeju rental car packages — booking ahead for the October 23–25 festival weekend secures both price and availability during Jeju’s busy autumn season.
Jeju in October combines the island’s autumn scenery with the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival — a practical reason to build a 2–3 night itinerary around the Seogwipo downtown. Pre-booking rental cars and accommodation significantly improves the overall experience during this high-demand period.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. The Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival is organized by Seogwipo City as a public community event. All main programs are free to attend. Some themed programs like Running in Chilsimni may require advance registration due to capacity — confirm via 70festival.com.
A. The drone light show is part of the opening ceremony on the evening of October 23. It takes place over the Cheonjiyeon Falls area. The confirmed start time will be on 70festival.com — check the day before, as weather can affect the schedule.
A. Registration is via the official festival website (70festival.com). Participant numbers are limited, so apply as soon as the window opens. Chrome’s translation feature works well for the Korean-language sign-up process.
A. The 32nd Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival runs Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, 2026, across the Cheonjiyeon Falls parking lot area and the historic downtown of Seogwipo, Jeju Island. Free entry.
More to Explore
Planning your Korea trip around the Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival weekend? The same October 23–25 dates bring festivals across the country. For Jeju accommodation, searching “Seogwipo hotel” on Agoda or Booking.com with the festival dates will show what’s still available — book as early as possible given October’s high demand on the island.
Running over the same weekend in Gyeonggi Province, the Yeoju Ogoknaru Festival offers a completely different autumn experience: a traditional Nakhwa-nori fire performance over the Namhan River and free roasted sweet potatoes — a strong option if your Korea trip extends beyond Jeju.
Heading to Seogwipo by airport bus or intercity transport? Check the timetable in advance — note that this page is in Korean, so your browser’s translate feature will help.
The themed programs — Running in Chilsimni and the Horror Maze — are the ones most likely to have capacity limits, so I’d sort those out first via the official site. The drone show spot near Cheonjiyeon Falls is worth securing early: aim to be there 45 minutes before the confirmed start time. The flea market and food trucks are standing programs with no registration needed, so those can be enjoyed at any pace across the three days.
Sources: Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival official website (70festival.com), Korea Tourism Organization official festival page (October 2026)
The en-fest editor covers festivals, travel, parks, and cultural events across Korea — all sourced from official announcements and public records.
https://en-fest.jhs29.com