Free entry to a stunning chrysanthemum festival in Korea’s ancient Baekje capital? 🌼 The 23rd Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival runs October 30 – November 8, 2026 at Gungnamji Pond — 5 themed spaces, towering flower sculptures of Baekje relics, tea ceremony booths, and busking, all for zero won. Here’s the full 10-day guide. 🍂
※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival is a free 10-day autumn event at Gungnamji Pond in Buyeo. Check the 5 themed spaces first. 🌼
The Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival is an autumn flower festival held at Gungnamji Pond in Buyeo-gun, South Chungcheong Province. Now in its 23rd edition, this year’s theme is “Chrysanthemum, Piecing Together the Fragments of Autumn.”
The festival runs from Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 8, 2026 — 10 days in total — with free admission. Five themed spaces recreate the spirit of Baekje history and autumn landscapes, anchored by large-scale chrysanthemum sculptures including the famous Gilt-bronze Incense Burner (금동대향로, *Geumdong Daehyangno*) and Sabimun Gate (사비문). According to official announcements, additional programs include an opening ceremony, chrysanthemum tea ceremony experiences, local specialty sales, food trucks, and small-scale busking. Based on official announcements as of October 16, 2026.
The official website is in Korean only. Your browser’s translate feature (e.g., Chrome → Translate) works well for checking dates and prices.
📊 Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival at a Glance
10 free days of chrysanthemum art at Korea’s historic Gungnamji Pond
The 23rd edition features 5 themed spaces — History, Scenery, Encounter, Fragrance, and Healing — plus Baekje-inspired chrysanthemum sculptures, a tea ceremony, local produce sales, food trucks, and busking.
Dates: Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 8, 2026 (10 days)
Venue: Gungnamji Pond area, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, South Chungcheong Province
Admission: Free
Getting There: Intercity bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Buyeo Intercity Bus Terminal, approx. 2 hours. Gungnamji Pond is approximately a 10-minute walk from the bus terminal.
Plan your visit date first — the 10-day window includes 6 weekdays and 4 weekend days.
Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival Key Info
Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 8, 2026
The Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival is free for all 10 days. Five themed spaces and Baekje-inspired chrysanthemum sculptures, a chrysanthemum tea ceremony, and local specialty sales await visitors.
The final day falls on Sunday, November 8 — many visitors target the last weekend for the full autumn foliage experience.
1. Festival Schedule & Venue: 3 Things to Know
Opening to Closing: 10 Days at Gungnamji
The Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival opens Friday, October 30 with an opening ceremony and runs through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Festival hours are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, according to the organizers. Chrysanthemum docent-guided tours run four times a day (11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM) in front of the festival operations office.
Gungnamji Pond — Korea’s Oldest Royal Garden
Gungnamji (궁남지) is Korea’s oldest man-made royal pond, built during the Baekje Kingdom era. The pond area sits a short walk from Buyeo’s intercity bus terminal — approximately 10 minutes on foot. Specific car park details are not confirmed in official materials; check the organizer’s website before driving.
Baekje Chrysanthemum Sculptures
Unique to Buyeo, the festival’s signature works recreate the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner (*Geumdong Daehyangno*) — a National Treasure originally excavated at Neungsan-ri temple site in Buyeo — and the Sabimun Gate, the southern gate of the ancient Baekje capital Sabi, entirely in chrysanthemums. These large-scale installations are the most photographed highlights of the event.
2. Weekdays vs Weekends at a Glance
For a free festival, the question isn’t cost — it’s timing. Of the 10 days, 6 are weekdays and 4 are weekends. Here’s the breakdown.
| Category | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Days | 6 | 4 |
| Dates | Oct 30 (Fri), Nov 2–6 (Mon–Fri) | Oct 31 (Sat), Nov 1 (Sun), Nov 7 (Sat), Nov 8 (Sun) |
| Admission | Free | Free |
| Share of total period | 60% | 40% |
| Crowd level (official info) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
💡 Agoda lists accommodation options in and around Buyeo — compare by date before the weekends fill up.
Autumn weekend accommodation in South Chungcheong fills quickly. The weekends of October 31–November 1 and November 7–8 will see higher demand. If you’re planning a day trip, factor in the roughly 2-hour bus ride from Seoul each way. Once your date is fixed, check accommodation before anything else.
3. Chrysanthemum Sculptures & 5 Themed Spaces
“Chrysanthemum, Piecing Together the Fragments of Autumn”
The 23rd festival’s theme treats autumn as a series of fragments — each themed space captures a different facet of the season. The name echoes the puzzle-like assembly of chrysanthemum petals into large sculptural forms, a craft that takes weeks of preparation by specialist growers.
5 Themed Spaces
The festival is organized into five thematic zones: the Fragment of History, the Fragment of Scenery, the Fragment of Encounter, the Fragment of Fragrance, and the Fragment of Healing. Detailed descriptions of each zone’s layout are not available in official materials — the on-site map will guide you once you arrive.
Baekje Heritage Sculptures
The Gilt-bronze Incense Burner and Sabimun Gate chrysanthemum sculptures are unique to Buyeo and cannot be seen at any other Korean chrysanthemum festival. Follow on-site signage to find each installation’s location. These tend to be the first stops for photographers arriving at opening time.
4. Admission & Visiting: 4 Steps for Foreign Visitors
Step 1: No Ticket Needed
Admission is free with no advance booking required. Foreign visitors can walk in at any point during the 9:00 AM–9:00 PM operating window.
Step 2: Choose Your Date
Pick any day between Friday, October 30 and Sunday, November 8. If you want to attend the opening ceremony, arrive on October 30 and check the organizer’s schedule for ceremony timing. Docent tours run at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM — these are a good orientation tool for first-time visitors and are conducted in Korean; English availability is not confirmed.
Step 3: Chrysanthemum Tea Ceremony & Booths
A chrysanthemum tea ceremony (국화 다도) is one of the featured experience activities. Additional experience booths cover chrysanthemum pot-making, chrysanthemum bag crafting, and pressed-flower and wood-carving exhibitions, according to the organizers. Individual booth fees may apply — confirm on arrival.
Step 4: Food Trucks & Local Specialties
Food trucks operate throughout the festival alongside local specialty sales. Busking performances are scheduled at various points across the 10 days. Specific menus, prices, and busking timetables are not confirmed in official materials.
The official website is in Korean only. Your browser’s translate feature (e.g., Chrome → Translate) works well for checking dates and prices.
5. Visitor Tips & What to Watch Out For
Check the Official Website Before You Go
Detailed program times are not fully confirmed in current official materials. Buyeo County’s official festival page (Korean) has the most up-to-date information. Weather or on-site conditions may cause scheduling changes.
Plan Around the Sculptures
The Gilt-bronze Incense Burner and Sabimun Gate installations are the clearest photo targets. Arriving at opening time (9:00 AM) gives you unobstructed shots before the crowds build on weekends.
Getting There from Seoul
From Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, intercity buses run to Buyeo Intercity Bus Terminal. Journey time is approximately 2 hours; check current timetables before departure. From Buyeo Bus Terminal, Gungnamji Pond is roughly a 10-minute walk. Intercity bus fares and exact frequencies are subject to change — confirm via the transport booking hub below.
Dress for the Temperature Gap
Late October to early November in Buyeo sees daytime highs around 14–17°C (57–63°F) and morning/evening temperatures dropping toward 5–8°C (41–46°F). The festival runs until 9:00 PM, so an extra layer is important if you stay for the evening.
Food Planning
Food trucks are on site, but menus and prices are not published in advance. Eat a proper meal before arriving if your schedule is tight — queues at festival food areas during peak weekend hours can be long.
6. Where to Eat & Stay Nearby
Food Trucks & Local Specialties at the Festival
Food trucks and local specialty sales booths operate throughout the 10-day event. Items and pricing are not listed officially — browse and compare on the day. The festival grounds close at 9:00 PM, so plan your dinner timing accordingly.
Accommodation in Buyeo
Buyeo has a range of guesthouses and small hotels. Use Booking.com or Trip.com to compare options near Gungnamji Pond. Rates during the festival weekends (October 31–November 1 and November 7–8) will be higher than weekday options — budget approximately KRW 60,000–100,000 per night (approx. USD 45–75) for a standard room, though rates vary.
💡 Trip.com offers deals on intercity bus tickets and Buyeo-area hotels — compare both in one place.
Since this is a free festival, transport and accommodation are where costs add up. Weekday visits cut accommodation costs significantly. If a day trip from Seoul is an option, the roughly 2-hour bus ride each way is manageable. Decide between a day trip and an overnight before comparing prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
More to Explore
Heading to Buyeo for the Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival? Plan your intercity bus connection from Seoul in advance — the journey takes about 2 hours and timetables are worth checking before you go.
Heading to Buyeo by intercity bus? Check the timetable in advance — note that this page is in Korean, so your browser’s translate feature will help.
For first-time visitors, the standout detail is the Baekje heritage angle. The chrysanthemum sculptures of the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner and Sabimun Gate are specific to Buyeo — you won’t find them at other Korean chrysanthemum festivals. If you’re combining this with a visit to Baekje Cultural Heritage sites nearby, the logistics align well: Gungnamji is already in the heart of Buyeo’s historic core.
Source: Buyeo County official website, Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) event page (as of October 2026)
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