Gimcheon Gimbap Festival

First held in 2024, the Gimbap Festival started from a playful idea: since the MZ generation jokingly says 'Gimcheon' reminds them of 'Gimbap Cheonguk' (a gimbap restaurant chain whose name means 'gimbap heaven'), why not actually create a real gimbap heaven? Held every October around Gimcheon's famous tourist spots — Samyeongdae Park, Jikji Culture Park, and the Eco Park — the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival is a leading K-food and K-culture event that brings back the excitement of childhood picnic days with a single roll of gimbap. Visitors can taste Gimcheon's own original gimbap creations born from the annual 'Gimbap Cooking Contest,' along with offerings from a gimbap factory, signature monk's gimbap, local gimbap, and unique gimbap varieties from all across the country, all in one place. The festival runs a variety of gimbap-themed experiences, exhibits, performances, and play content, including a Kkodari goods shop, Kkodari gimbap-making, gimbap art, and a gimbap playground. Created purely around gimbap and purely for visitors, the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival has become famous on social media as the 'persimmon-full' festival (a pun on 'gamdasal,' meaning 'full of persimmons/feeling'), and has established itself as a festival for enjoying a special autumn picnic through gimbap.