[DiaryPoint Reporter Choi Seung-jin] Over the Nov. 7–8 weekend, festivals celebrating ramen, apples and kimchi-making will take place in Gumi and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province, and in Goesan in North Chungcheong Province. Admission to all three festival grounds is free, but the kimchi-making program at the Goesan festival requires a paid reservation.
The Gumi Ramen Festival runs Nov. 6–8 around Gumi Station and the old downtown area of Wonpyeong-dong. It will feature 200,000 festival-exclusive noodles made with “Gumimilgari,” a domestic whole-wheat brand developed by Gumi City, local farmers and small businesses. Twenty-five ramen restaurants and eight food trucks will take part. Admission is free; food is sold separately.
The Cheongsong Apple Festival runs Nov. 4–8 around Hyeonbiam Rock along the Yongjeoncheon Stream in Cheongsong-eup. Admission is free, though some activities charge a fee. The official parking guide lists six locations, including both sides of Wolmak Bridge, in front of the Cheongsong County Health and Medical Center, the Comprehensive Culture and Welfare Center, Cheongsong County Sports Complex, and Cheongsong Middle and High School. The school parking lot is available only to passenger cars on Saturday and Sunday.
The Goesan Kimchi-Making Festival runs Nov. 5–8 around Goesan Organic Expo Plaza and Goesan Sports Complex. Admission is free, but kimchi-making sessions require advance reservations and a participation fee. According to Goesan County, the standard 10-kg one-stop kimchi-making set costs 76,000 won and includes 10 kg of salted cabbage and 3.8 kg of seasoning. The eco-friendly set costs 86,000 won.
The standard 20-kg set costs 148,000 won, while the eco-friendly set is 170,000 won. The drive-through option lets participants make kimchi from their cars at Goesan Sports Complex; check the official reservation guide for its separate set details and pricing. Reservations opened on the festival website at 10 a.m. on Oct. 8 and were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Goesan will also host the Korea Kimchi-Making Competition from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Goesan Organic Expo Plaza. The on-site competition uses 10 kg of salted cabbage from Goesan and 5 kg of seasoning. Visitors can plan separately for festival activities and the kimchi-making experience.
In Gumi, visitors can explore the downtown shopping district alongside the festival, while Cheongsong’s schedule centers on apple activities and events around Hyeonbiam. The Goesan Kimchi-Making and Cheongsong Apple festivals end Sunday, Nov. 8, as does the Gumi Ramen Festival.