If you thought the Hampyeong Chrysanthemum Festival was simply a place to quietly admire chrysanthemum flowers, then take a step towards the Hampyeong Expo Park, where you will find large-scale sculptures, concerts, and escape experiences.
The 2026 Korea National Chrysanthemum Festival will be held from October 23 to November 8 at the Hampyeong Expo Park.
This year’s theme is “Chrysanthemum Garden of Myths.” Chrysanthemums are no longer confined to pots; they have expanded their scope to include large-scale installations, bonsai, performances, and hands-on experiences.
Hampyeong Expo Park is the venue that hosted the Butterfly and Insect Expo in 2008, and it is a multi-purpose cultural space where the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival is held in the spring and the Korea National Chrysanthemum Festival is held in the autumn. It is designed so that visitors can see flowers, walk around, eat, and rest, all in one place.
This is a place where chrysanthemums bloom, depicting scenes from mythology.
The centerpiece of this festival features large chrysanthemum installations and various chrysanthemum bonsai artworks. The walking paths are lined with themed sculptures, such as “Guardians of Myth,” “Unicorn’s Pampas Meadow,” “Water Goddess,” “Hand of Love,” and “Mysterious Mirror Cave,” allowing visitors to appreciate the colors and forms of the flowers in distinct scenes.
In 2026, the park will feature redesigned pathways that emphasize walking and relaxation, large chrysanthemum sculptures, and forest trail rest areas. The National Chrysanthemum Festival, which began in the autumn of 2004 at the Hampyeongcheon Riverfront Park, has grown into a festival that combines chrysanthemum exhibitions with bonsai displays, hands-on activities, performances, and sales.
This is not a place for quickly viewing the national flower; instead, it’s a place to slow down and enjoy the scenery along the butterfly pond and the pine forest path. It’s ideal for families who want to take their time looking at the flowers and enjoying leisurely walks, or for those traveling with parents.
This is the color visible between the Butterfly Festival and the *Doraji* Flower Festival.
The Hampyeong Butterfly Festival and the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition are both major festivals held at the Hampyeong Expo Park. However, while the Spring Butterfly Festival focuses on butterflies and ecological experiences, the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition emphasizes chrysanthemum displays and large-scale sculptures.
While the Hampyeong Moaksan Flower Festival focuses on the scenery of red spider lilies in the Moaksan area and offers walking trails, the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition is an event where chrysanthemums, bonsai, and planned artworks can be compared side by side. Both the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition and the “Republic of Korea Orchid Masterpiece Festival” share the theme of plants, but the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition emphasizes outdoor exhibits and hands-on activities, while the “Republic of Korea Orchid Masterpiece Festival” focuses more on orchid artwork displays and evaluations.
It’s okay if the speed is different, whether it’s for children or parents.
When visiting with children, consider combining the “Escape Adventure” at Kukhwa Land, the “Kukhwa Craft” activity, and the “Wetland Station Electric Cart” experience. By observing the colors and shapes of the large chrysanthemum sculptures, even flower viewing becomes an observational learning experience.
It is a good idea to take your parents to see the chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition and the pine forest trail, and then relax at the Gukhyang Autumn Music Concert or the food market. A stroller and wheelchair rental service is also available, making it convenient for those with children or companions who have difficulty walking.
Sculptures depicting scenes from mythology are a good fit for couples and friends. Since a festival ground offers both photo opportunities and performance venues, it would be a shame to simply visit and leave after seeing the flowers.
Enjoy the chrysanthemum garden in different ways, depending on your companions.
If you are with a child, first choose the “Escape Experience” at Kukhwa Land and the “Chrysanthemum Craft” activity. Then, take a photo in front of the large chrysanthemum sculptures. It is okay if your child is more interested in the activities than in simply looking at the flowers, because this is not just an exhibition.
Enjoy the chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition and the pine forest path at a leisurely pace, and utilize the performances and food stalls as resting points. Since the event area is large and walking distances may be significant, it is advisable to schedule breaks to ensure your companions’ facial expressions remain relaxed.
You can visit “Hand of Love,” “The Water Goddess,” and “The Mysterious Mirror Cave” one after another with your partner, taking photos at each location. With your friends, you can enjoy a brass band street-performance parade or the “Gukhyang” autumn music festival, and then browse the stalls selling local agricultural products and handicrafts.
If you are interested in plants, compare and appreciate the large chrysanthemum installations and chrysanthemum bonsai, then proceed to the chrysanthemum bonsai sales area and the plant sales area. It is also a good idea to slowly walk through the exhibition hall shortly after it opens and record the colors and shapes of the works that you like.
First, it’s maps, then artworks, and finally, food and drink.
After receiving a guide map at the entrance, it is convenient to first view the large chrysanthemum sculptures and chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition, then move on to the hands-on activity area and food market. Since this route lets you see the flowers first and fill your stomach afterward, neither your route nor your mood will be thrown off.
During weekends, the First Bull Parking Lot and the entrance to the event area may be crowded, and the main photo spots may also be congested. It is advisable to arrive early in the morning or to park outside the event area and walk in. For those who want to take photos at their leisure, weekdays or shortly after the opening are ideal.
The event venue is large, so it may take a considerable amount of walking time to see all the main exhibits and hands-on activities. Please wear comfortable shoes, and if you are with parents, take breaks and find a place to sit down occasionally.
Please follow the chrysanthemum image with other scenic views of Hampyeong.
In early November, it is a good time to enjoy both the chrysanthemum exhibition and a walk through the pine forest. The Hwanggeum Bat Exhibition Hall, located near the festival grounds in Hampyeong-eup, is an indoor tourist attraction that focuses on the ecology and natural environment of the golden bat, offering a different experience from the flowers.
Hampyeong Natural Ecology Park is an ecological tourism destination located in Daedong-myeon. Dolmeori Beach and the sunset over Hampyeong Bay are excellent places to connect with the sea views and the scenery at dusk after attending the festival. It is possible to plan a trip in Hampyeong that starts with flowers and ends with ecology and the sea.
This is the road to the Hampyeong Expo Park.
The address is 27 Gonjae-ro, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City. If traveling by car, you can reach Hampyeong Expo Park from Hampyeong IC or Dong Hampyeong IC.
From Gwangju, you can take a bus bound for Hampyeong and then travel to Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong-eup. Public transportation to the festival grounds primarily utilizes buses that connect Gwangju and Hampyeong.
Parking is available in the lots around the venue, including Hampyeong Expo Park’s No. 1 Hwangso Parking Lot, No. 2 Nabi Parking Lot, and No. 3 Theme Video Hall Parking Lot. On weekends, No. 1 Hwangso Parking Lot may be crowded, so it is also worth considering No. 2 Nabi Parking Lot.
Please remember that admission is subject to a fee, and tickets are also available for purchase at the venue.
The Korea National Chrysanthemum Festival is a paid event. The standard admission prices are 7,000 won for adults, 5,000 won for teenagers and military personnel, and 3,000 won for preschoolers, children, and senior citizens.
The advance ticket sales ended on October 22, 2026. Tickets will be available for purchase at the venue during the festival period. Online ticket purchase is available through NOL and Naver reservation services.
Residents of Hampyeong County, children under the age of 4, people with disabilities, and those eligible for national merit service are eligible for free admission. During the advance booking period, the prices were 6,300 won for adults, 4,500 won for teenagers and military personnel, and 2,700 won for kindergarteners, children, and senior citizens.
This refers to the operating hours for viewing and the access control measures in place after the festival.
The viewing hours are from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The festival period is from October 23rd to November 8th.
Following the conclusion of the festival, park access will be restricted from November 9th to November 11th for the purpose of dismantling the festival facilities. For inquiries, please call 061-320-2247.
If you plan to visit in early November, wear comfortable shoes and arrive at the opening time in the morning. To avoid congestion at the First Bull Parking Lot on weekends, also consider using the Second Nabi Parking Lot.
