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Hi, I’m SeoulAslanHansik Festa 2026 in Seoul: Dates, Sign-Up, How to Go
Checked Oct 11, 2026
Hansik Festa (한식대축제) is a three-day Korean food festival, Fri Oct 23 to Sun Oct 25, 2026, at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul: the auditorium on Oct 23 and the area around the Mirror Pond (거울못) on all three days. Oct 24 is Hansik Day (한식의 날, "Korean Food Day"), a legal anniversary for the first time this year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs says the program is for both Koreans and foreigners. It lists cooking shows, cooking classes, restaurant pop-ups and a flea market, with no prices or hours published yet. The Oct 23 conference and the hands-on programs need sign-up on a Naver form, first come first served: conference from Oct 8, hands-on programs from Mon Oct 12. Get there by Line 4 or the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Ichon Station (이촌역), Exit 2.
At my house we always wait to make kimjang, the big autumn kimchi-making, until highland cabbage is in season. The heads are packed full and they taste better. So in this guide I covered the market part too, where ingredients are sold, along with the program by day. The facts below come from the ministry's press release and an English report, and I could not open the sign-up form because it was not public yet.
Jump to: What it is · Oct 23 · Mirror Pond · Sign-up · Getting there · Same week · FAQ
What is Hansik Festa, and what is Hansik Day?
Hansik (한식) means Korean food. Hansik Festa is the festival for the first Hansik Day, Oct 24, which the ministry's press release of Oct 7, 2026 calls the first statutory anniversary of Korean food. It is held by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together. The Korea Times reported the same dates and place in English on Oct 7.
The release says Oct 24 was chosen to combine the number 10, a symbol of completion and harmony, with the 24 solar terms of the traditional calendar. The press release calls the event 2026 한식대축제 and the poster calls it 2026 한식 페스타 (HANSIK FESTA). It is the same event.
What happens on Friday, Oct 23?
The first Hansik Day ceremony is in the museum's auditorium. The press release says diplomats from key Korean-food export countries and from countries marking anniversaries of diplomatic ties will attend, along with the industry and academics, and awards go to people who helped Korean food grow. A conference follows, in two parts. The release does not say whether it will be interpreted, and the topics are listed in Korean.
| Part | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Why Hansik now | Park Hyun-young (박현영), Life Trend Observation Center | Why Korean food meets today's food trends |
| 1 | Chef Ok Dong-sik (옥동식) | Where Korean food stands in the global food market |
| 1 | Producer Lee Wook-jung (이욱정) | How content and culture spread Korean food |
| 2 · Branding and sustainability | Chef Son Jong-won (손종원), Eatanic Garden | How Korean food becomes a brand in Korea |
| 2 | Kim Sook-jin (김숙진), CJ CheilJedang | Branding Korean food in the world market |
| 2 | Prof. Jung Hye-kyung (정혜경), Prof. Jung Ra-na (정라나) and others | Panel on passing Korean food to the next generation |
Conference sign-up opened on Thu Oct 8. Chef Son's restaurant, Eatanic Garden (이타닉 가든), is in Seoul's official list of 100 restaurants; see my guide to the 100 restaurants.
What is on around the Mirror Pond, Oct 23 to 25?
The Mirror Pond programs run on all three days, and the release says anyone can join. It lists these:
- Cooking shows by three pairs: Master Lee Ha-yeon (이하연) with chef Han Shin-hee (한신희), the monk Woo Kwan (우관) with the creator Magic Boy Kim Chef (마법소년 김셰프), and chef Park Joo-eun (박주은) with the creator Eunsujeo (은수저). The release gives no order or day for each pair.
- A talk show on Korean food in film and content, with Lee Hye-won (이혜원) of Food & Culture Korea and the film creator Kim Si-seon (김시선).
- A Hansik golden bell quiz for visitors, cooking classes and cultural performances.
- A company showcase, restaurant pop-up stores serving new-style Korean dishes and desserts, and a flea market selling Korean ingredients, desserts and tableware.
The Korea Times describes the same list in English. Neither source gives opening hours, prices for food, or a day-by-day timetable. The official Instagram account, @hansik_official, is where the ministry says details will be posted.
How do I sign up?
Both sign-ups are on a Naver form, first come first served.
| What | Sign-up opens | How |
|---|---|---|
| Conference, Oct 23 | Thu Oct 8 | Naver form, first come first served |
| Hands-on programs, Oct 23–25 | Mon Oct 12 | Naver form, first come first served |
The press release says the form is announced through the Korea Food Promotion Institute's official Instagram, @hansik_official. As of Oct 11 I had not seen the form, so I can't tell you what it asks for or whether it is in English. Look for the link on that Instagram page.
How do I get to the National Museum of Korea?
Take Line 4 or the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Ichon Station (이촌역) and use Exit 2. A Seoul city article says the museum is directly connected to that exit, and that the first thing you see is the Mirror Pond, named because the museum is reflected in it like a mirror. A sign to the "Museum Walkway" (박물관 나들길), a path to the garden, is on the right. The museum's own directions say the walkway to the museum's west gate is open 7:00 to 23:00 and closed when the museum is. For a step-free way, the museum lists elevators at Exit 1 and along the walkway from Exit 2. If you are changing lines, Line 1 connects at Yongsan, Line 6 at Samgakji and Line 9 at Dongjak, all to Ichon.
The museum's garden is open 7:00 to 22:00 all year, and permanent exhibitions are free; paid special exhibitions are not. Parking at the museum is paid and limited, and the museum asks visitors to use public transport. Not sure how to pay for the subway? T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS has it.
Naver Map pins
| # | Place | Naver Map |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) | Open |
| 2 | Ichon Station, Exit 2 (이촌역 2번 출구) | Open |
| 3 | Mirror Pond (거울못) | Open |
New to Naver Map? Naver Map vs Kakao Map vs Google Maps explains it.
What else is on in Seoul that week?
Seoul Gourmet Week, the city's own food week, runs Oct 23 to 29. The first day is the same as Hansik Festa's, and Hansik Day, Oct 24, is its second day. For all events in Seoul that month, see Seoul and Busan festivals, Oct 12–31.
FAQ
When is Hansik Festa 2026?
Fri Oct 23 to Sun Oct 25, 2026, at the National Museum of Korea. Oct 24 is Hansik Day.
Do foreigners need to sign up?
The press release invites both Koreans and foreigners. Sign-up is only stated for the Oct 23 conference and the hands-on programs. It does not say that watching the cooking shows or the market needs sign-up, but I could not confirm that, so check the official Instagram.
How much does Hansik Festa cost?
No price is published in the press release or the Korea Times. I won't call it free.
Can I sign up for Hansik Festa in English?
I don't know. The form was not public on Oct 11.
Which Ichon Station exit is closest?
Ichon Station Exit 2. The Mirror Pond is the first thing you see.
Can I drive to Hansik Festa?
The museum's car park is paid and limited, and the museum asks visitors to take public transport.
The sign-up form and the timetable
The hands-on sign-up opens from Mon Oct 12 on a Naver form. I'll check @hansik_official for the form, any English, the daily timetable and prices, and update this page. I haven't been to the festival, so this is a read of official pages, not a visit.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), press release on the first Hansik Day and 2026 Hansik Festa, Oct 7, 2026 (Korean)
- The Korea Times, "Korea launches inaugural 'Korean Food Day' with 3-day festival in Seoul", Oct 7, 2026
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, article on the National Museum of Korea, Apr 1, 2024 (Korean): Ichon Station Exit 2, Mirror Pond, garden hours
- National Museum of Korea, directions and parking pages, checked Oct 7, 2026 (Korean): walkway hours, elevators, parking
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, October 2026 citizen notices (Korean): Seoul Gourmet Week dates
- Korea Food Promotion Institute, Instagram @hansik_official
- Photos: Korea Tourism Organization photo gallery, KOGL Type 1 (credited; cropped to size)
— SeoulAslan
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