Rice, Seaweed, and 100,000 Visitors: The Gimbap Festival Craze

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The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival in North Gyeongsang Province turns Korea’s beloved picnic food into a cultural celebration. Inspired by the city’s name sounding like Gimbap Cheonguk (“Gimbap Heaven”), the festival debuted in 2024 with over 100,000 visitors.

2025 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival

Highlights include tasting booths, DIY gimbap rolling, and creative contests featuring local ingredients like walnuts, plums, and black pork. Despite long lines and sellouts last year, its playful branding and eco-friendly approach won praise. In 2025, the event expands with global buzz, viral “one-bite gimbap” challenges, and picnic-style performances — cementing Gimcheon as Korea’s newest foodie hotspot.

Vocabulary:

  • 김밥 (gimbap) – seaweed rice roll
  • 축제 (chukje) – festival
  • 김천 (Gimcheon) – city in North Gyeongsang Province
  • 김밥천국 (Gimbap Cheonguk) – “Gimbap Heaven” restaurant chain
  • 재료 (jaeryo) – ingredient
  • 체험 (cheheom) – experience, hands-on activity
  • 도시락 (dosirak) – packed lunch, picnic box

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