Jirisan Walking Festival 2026 in Sancheong: Complete Guide to a Beautiful 12km Autumn Walk

Walk 12km at the Jirisan Walking Festival and get a 10,000 won voucher back? 🍂 On Saturday, October 24, around 500 walkers set out on the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail in Sancheong. Here’s the full guide: sign-up steps, the route, and what first-timers should check before the October 20 deadline. 🥾

※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

The Jirisan Walking Festival is a 12km autumn walk in Sancheong on October 24, with a 20,000 won fee (approx. $14) and a 10,000 won local voucher for every participant. 🍁 The route, the sign-up steps, and the discount rules are all below.

The Jirisan Walking Festival is a one-day autumn walk on the Jirisan Dulle-gil, the long trail that circles Mt. Jirisan, held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, around Sancheong Citizens’ Neighborhood Park in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province. In Korean it is called Jirisan Sopung (지리산소풍), which literally means “Jirisan Picnic.”

The Dulle-gil links five cities and counties around the mountain: Namwon, Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong, and Gurye. Jirisan was the first national park designated in South Korea, and its highest peak, Cheonwangbong, stands at 1,915 m. The Sopung walking event began in 2011 to build a reflective walking culture on the mountain, and this year it is hosted in Sancheong. Capacity is set at around 500 participants, the course is about 12km, and the fee is 20,000 won. Based on official announcements as of October 15, 2026.

The official website is in Korean only. Your browser’s translate feature (e.g., Chrome → Translate) works well for checking dates and prices.

Official Event Page (Korean)

1. Jirisan Walking Festival Overview: 3 Things to Know

A Walking Event Running Since 2011

Jirisan Sopung is presented as a walking event on the Jirisan Dulle-gil, a trail that runs through the five cities and counties around the mountain. It started in 2011, and this year the Sancheong section hosts it. The information available describes a walk rather than a race, and no finish-time rules were mentioned.

One-Day Schedule and Check-In

The event runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on October 24. Participant check-in starts at 8:30 AM, so plan to arrive before then. Check-in has to be finished before the main program begins.

Market and Performances After the Walk

After the walk, a picnic market and cultural performances follow. At Hwanaejeong, a traditional pavilion in Sancheong town, the organizers also plan games and a surprise-gift event, according to the announcement. The day includes rest stops and entertainment, not just mileage.

2. Jirisan Walking Festival Course, Venue & How to Get There

Route Order

The route is a loop. It starts at Sancheong Citizens’ Neighborhood Park, passes Seonnyeotang (literally “Fairy’s Bath”) and Hanbat Village, stops in the town of Sancheong-eup for lunch, continues to Hwanaejeong, and returns to the park. The total distance is about 12km.

Venue and Getting There

The venue is Sancheong Citizens’ Neighborhood Park at 7 Ungseokbong-ro 86beon-gil, Sancheong-eup, Gyeongsangnam-do. You start and finish in the same place, which keeps the logistics simple. Sancheong sits at the foot of Jirisan, a long way from Seoul and Incheon International Airport, and the notices I reviewed gave no public transport, parking, travel-time, or fare details. Because check-in starts at 8:30 AM, staying nearby the night before is worth considering. The Korea Travel Helpline (1330) offers support in Korean and English if you need route advice.

💡 Agoda and Booking.com are good places to compare Sancheong-area stays before you book.

If you want to make the 8:30 AM check-in, sleeping close to the park the night before is the easiest fix. Coming from far away means weighing the hotel location against the travel time. After 12km on foot, a long drive or bus ride home can feel heavy too. Once your plan is set, lock in a room first.

3. Tickets & Booking: 4 Steps for Foreign Visitors

Step 1: Open the Online Registration Page

Registration is online only. The window runs from 2:00 PM on September 9, 2026, to 5:00 PM on October 20, 2026. The sign-up page is in Korean, so use your browser’s translate feature, because English support may be limited. The announcement does not say whether foreign residents or tourists can register, so call the 1330 helpline first if you are unsure.

Step 2: Check the Fee

The fee is 20,000 won (approx. $14). The sign-up page shows a range of 10,000 to 20,000 won because it includes the regular donor price. Whether the page accepts overseas credit cards was not confirmed.

Step 3: Check the Regular Donor Discount

Regular donors, called jeonggi huwonja (정기후원자) in Korean, get 50% off for up to two people, themselves included. Who qualifies and how the discount is verified are explained on the registration page, so read those notes before you pay. If you are traveling with a companion, check this condition first.

Step 4: Receive Your Voucher and Souvenir

Every participant receives a Sancheong Sarang gift voucher (산청사랑상품권) worth 10,000 won (approx. $7) and a souvenir. How you collect them and where the voucher can be spent are not stated, so check the official notice. Subtract the voucher from the fee and the net cost comes to 10,000 won (approx. $7).

Registration Page (Korean)

4. Where to Eat & Stay Nearby

Lunch in Sancheong-eup

The route stops for lunch in the Sancheong-eup section. The official information I reviewed does not confirm whether lunch is provided, so check the registration page notice and carry a snack just in case. No specific restaurants are named in the announcement, so none are recommended here.

Using the Sancheong Sarang Voucher

The voucher is a local gift voucher meant for shops in Sancheong. Eligible merchants and the expiry date have not been announced, and it is unknown whether it works at the market stalls. Wait for the official notice before you plan any purchases.

Booking a Place to Stay

Compare Sancheong-area rooms on Agoda, Booking.com, or Trip.com. The announcement does not name any hotels. October 24 is a Saturday, so check weekend availability early.

5. Regular Fee vs Regular Donor at a Glance

The fee structure is the confusing part of this sign-up. Regular participants and regular donors pay different amounts but receive the same perks. Putting the numbers side by side makes the real cost clear.

6. Tips for Foreign Visitors

Arrive Before the 8:30 AM Check-In

The program starts at 9:00 AM, but check-in begins at 8:30 AM. Leave extra time for travel and parking, because even a small-town venue can fill up on event day. If you need help on arrival, try this Korean phrase: 참가자 확인은 어디서 하나요? (Chamgaja hwagin-eun eodiseo hanayo?), meaning “Where is participant check-in?” English-speaking staff may be limited.

Save Your Registration Confirmation

Take a screenshot of the confirmation you receive after signing up. It saves you from digging through emails or text messages at the venue. The exact check-in method is on the official notice, and a translate app helps with the Korean page.

Dress for a 12km Walk

Comfortable sneakers and a light jacket generally help on a 12km route. Mornings in Sancheong can be cool in late October. Bring water and snacks to suit your own needs, since card acceptance at the market stalls was not announced.

Check the Donor Discount Rules First

You need to prove regular donor status to get the discount, and that may take time. Do it before you start the payment step. If you are walking with a companion, remember the limit of two discounted people.

Watch the Weather and Announcements

Outdoor walking events can change with the weather. Make a habit of checking the official notice the day before. Last-minute changes to the program or route are most likely to appear there first.

💡 Trip.com and Agoda let you compare Sancheong-area stays side by side.

A walking day tires your legs first, so cutting down on travel makes a big difference. A room booked the night before gives you breathing room at check-in. The event runs on one fixed date, which means nearby rooms can sell out. Once your plan is confirmed, look at the closest options first.

Frequently Asked Questions

More to Explore

Once your Jirisan Walking Festival plans are set, sort out transport and a room together. Compare Sancheong-area stays on Agoda or Booking.com, and check the express bus timetable ahead of time.

Heading to Sancheong by express bus? Check the timetable in advance — note that this page is in Korean, so your browser’s translate feature will help.

Source: Korea Tourism Organization (VISITKOREA) event page and the Jirisan Dulle-gil registration notice (as of October 2026)