[Diary Point = Choi Seung-jin] The Hongseong Global BBQ Festival will be held from Thursday, Oct. 29 to Sunday, Nov. 1 around Hongjuseong Fortress in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province. The festival runs daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and admission is free. However, visitors will need to pay separately for barbecue and other food at the food zones, as well as for merchandise sold on site.
On opening day, Oct. 29, the opening ceremony and the “Good Day Concert” will take place at 5 p.m. on the main stage, featuring singers Jang Min-ho, Choi Su-ho, Jeon Yoo-jin, Shin Myung-geun, Hwang Woo-rim and Choi Ye-jin. A seven-minute fireworks show is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. The same fireworks show will also take place on the closing day, Nov. 1, at 7:20 p.m., so visitors who want to catch both a concert and fireworks should plan to attend either Thursday or Sunday.
Daily performances are centered around 5 p.m.
On Friday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m., the “Smoky Beat” stage will feature Homidul and DJ Lara. On Saturday, Oct. 31, at 5 p.m., the “Grill Sound” stage will showcase Cherish, Bobby Pins and Daybreak. On Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m., the “Lingering Emotion Concert” will feature Oha, Omo and Shin Sung.
No official crowd forecast has been released, but daytime hours on Friday, Oct. 30, are likely to be less crowded than the weekend. Thursday, Oct. 29, is also an option for a daytime visit, but things may get busy from the evening onward ahead of the 5 p.m. opening concert and fireworks. Visitors going on the weekend are advised to arrive in the morning to enjoy food and the festival grounds before crowds build up.
Nine parking areas and shuttle buses centered around Joyangmun Gate
According to official information, parking is available at nine locations, including the site of the demolished Hyangcheong building, the former Hongju Elementary School playground, the Nammun-dong Eoullim Center parking lot, Hongseong Elementary School playground, Jeil Church parking lot, Sungkyul Church parking lot, Daegyo Park parking lot, the temporary parking lot at Hongseong Permanent Market, and the Hongju Sports Complex parking lot. Availability and usage restrictions may vary by lot and date, so visitors should check official parking information right before heading out. Rather than insisting on parking near the festival site, it's safer to prioritize lots connected to the shuttle service.
Shuttle buses run on three routes connecting Naepo New Town, Hongseong Station and Hongju Sports Complex to the festival grounds. The Naepo route passes through the Naepo KBS site and the Bando Yubora bus stop before arriving at Joyangmun Gate. The Hongseong Station route passes through Hongseong Station and Goam Neighborhood Park. The Hongju Sports Complex route runs between the sports complex and Joyangmun Gate. According to the official schedule, each route begins operating around 9:30 a.m. and continues until around 10 p.m.
Shuttle buses pick up and drop off passengers at Joyangmun Gate, and departure times may shift depending on traffic conditions. In particular, a surge of passengers heading home is expected right after the fireworks end at 7:27 p.m., so those only attending the concert should either leave shortly before it ends or plan to stay in the area until the crowds thin out.
This is a festival where visitors should think beyond the free admission and also plan their food budget, payment methods and wait times. Those aiming to catch the opening concert and fireworks should arrive before 5 p.m. on Oct. 29, while families hoping to enjoy barbecue during quieter hours may find it more practical to visit on Friday daytime and take the shuttle home afterward. Detailed programs and transportation information may change depending on operations.