Sunchang Fermented Foods Festival

*The following information on festival food is from the previous year’s (2025) festival; details for the 2026 festival are currently being updated.* The Sunchang Fermented Soybean Paste Festival is a food culture festival held in Sunchang—the home of traditional fermented soybean pastes—where visitors can directly experience the value of Korea’s fermented soybean paste culture and fermented foods, such as gochujang, doenjang, and ganjang. Marking its 21st edition in 2026, the festival will be held under the theme “Capturing the World’s Palates in Sunchang” from October 15 to 18 at the Sunchang Traditional Gochujang Folk Village and the Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park. During the festival, a variety of programs—including hands-on activities, performances, exhibitions, competitions, and food offerings—centered on traditional fermented sauces and K-food will be held. Key programs include “Global Gochujang Making,” where locals and international visitors participate together; the “Sunchang Gochujang Royal Offering Procession,” a parade reenacting the presentation of Sunchang gochujang to the king during the Joseon Dynasty; the “Global Jang Culture School,” where visitors can learn about and experience Sunchang’s jang culture; the “K-Food Experience Program,” where participants can make their own kimchi, makgeolli, pickles, and meju; and more. In addition, the festival will feature “Sunchang Fermentation Village 1997,” the augmented reality (AR) mission game “Find King Jangchu,” and “A World Tour of Flavors: Sauce Lounge,” where visitors can enjoy sauce exhibitions, tastings, and hands-on activities—all of which allow visitors to experience Sunchang’s fermented sauce and fermentation culture in a variety of ways.

1. Main Programs - Global Gochujang Making, Sunchang Gochujang Royal Tribute Procession, Sunchang Fermentation Village 1997, Global Jang Culture School 2. Side Programs - Opening Ceremony and Celebration Performances, “Fermenting Jang”: A Fusion of Traditional Korean Music and Classical Music, World Heritage Tightrope Walking Performance, Sunchang Global K-POP Song Festival, Closing Ceremony and Fall Concert 3. Consumer Participation Programs - K-Food Experience Programs (Making Kimchi, Makgeolli, Pickles, and Meju), Find the Jangchu King (AR Mission Game), Find the Golden Meju, Red-Day Event, Spicy Flavor Contest, Fermented Sauce Gourmet Cooking Class, Global Fermented Sauce Cooking Competition 4. Other Details - Global K-Food Market, “World Tour of Flavors” Sauce Lounge, K-Culture Exhibitions and Experiences, Sunchang Tavern, Local Art Exhibitions and Performances, Agricultural Product Sales, and Food Stalls