Jinan Red Ginseng Festival: Meet Korea's Health Food Straight From the Source

Jinan County in North Jeolla Province holds the "2026 Jinan Hongsam (Red Ginseng) Festival" for three days, September 18 (Friday) through 20 (Sunday). The venue is around 160 Maisan-ro in Jinan-eup, hosted by Jinan County and the Jinan Red Ginseng Festival Organizing Committee, under the theme "Falling for the Charm of Red Ginseng." Programs during the festival include a red-ginseng master class,

a "red ginseng wellness time," making red-ginseng kkakdugi (radish kimchi), a "red ginseng power zone," making red-ginseng dalgona candy, an outdoor foot-bath experience, and a VR experience bus. Food stalls will serve red-ginseng-infused dishes such as red-ginseng hanwoo (Korean beef), red-ginseng tteokbokki and red-ginseng barbecue, alongside K-pop dance performances, guest singer stages and tr

aditional performances. Admission is free, with only some experience programs charging a fee (tentative, subject to change). Inquiries can be directed to the Jinan County Office at 063-430-2392. For visitors, the benefit is clear: free admission lets travelers taste and buy directly from producers in Jinan, one of Korea's leading ginseng-growing regions, gaining a trustworthy source-direct shopp

ing experience at no extra cost. Jinan is widely regarded as a prime growing region for ginseng and red ginseng, thanks to its high elevation and wide daily temperature swings. About 20 minutes by car from the festival grounds is Maisan, Jinan's signature mountain, making it easy to pair the festival with a half-day sightseeing trip. Korea Tourism Times Editorial Desk