Korea's Last Roadside Tavern Hosts a Festival — Yecheon Samgang Naru Jumak Festival Opens Sept 25
If you'd like to step outside Seoul and experience Korea's old riverside inn culture, the Samgang Naru Jumak Festival running for three days from September 25 in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, is worth a look. A "jumak" was a traditional inn found at river crossings and roadside stops during the Joseon era, where travelers and merchants could eat, drink and spend the night -- something like a combined tavern and guesthouse. The festival's setting, Samgang Jumak, is the last surviving jumak in Korea and was designated a National Folk Cultural Heritage in 2025.
At a glance: dates September 25 (Fri)-27 (Sun), three days; hours 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; venue Samgang Culture Complex, 33 Samgang-ri-gil, Pungyang-myeon, Yecheon-gun, North Gyeongsang Province; inquiries 054-650-6034 (Yecheon County); website yctf.kr/2026samgang.
Set where the Nakdong, Naeseong and Geum rivers meet, this was once a resting point for traveling peddlers and wayfarers. The festival brings that history to life with performers dressed as peddlers, innkeepers and hunters in programs such as the "Peddler's Market Hangout," a "Samgang Quiz Show" on local history, and the "Samgang Peddler Pass," where collecting eight stamps earns a souvenir. There are also family-friendly booths for making dalgona (Korean honeycomb candy), trying on traditional hanbok, spinning wheel demonstrations and kayaking, alongside caricature drawing, a kids' zone, local performances and busking. Two markets -- Samgang-jang and Haeborae-jang -- sell regional produce and handicrafts, and food trucks round out the offerings.
Inside the Samgang Culture Complex, an eco-friendly electric shuttle called the "Traveler's Bus" runs between the exhibition hall and the experience areas, making it easier for visitors who don't want to walk the whole site. Public transit in Yecheon is more limited than in Seoul, so if you're relying on it, plan to reach Yecheon or a nearby city by express bus or KTX and check local transport options in advance. For anyone who wants a taste of rural Korea's Chuseok-season atmosphere and the energy of families returning home, this festival is hard to pass up.