National Baekdudaegan Arboretum to host 2026 Bongja Festival

The National Baekdudaegan Arboretum in Bonghwa will host the ‘2026 Baekdudaegan Bongja Festival’ from October 1 to 11. Under the theme ‘Enjoy the World: Sniff, Soft, Slurp, Yum,’ the event will feature approximately 320,000 wildflowers, including Siberian chrysanthemum and aster, grown by local farmers.

The festival is part of a regional coexistence contract farming project designed to provide stable income for local farmers and combat regional extinction. Last year, the initiative generated an estimated 21.7 billion won in direct and indirect economic impact.

In addition to the floral displays, the festival includes the ‘Bongja Market’ featuring local farmers and small business owners, special character exhibitions, and educational programs. To improve accessibility, the arboretum will offer free admission during the festival period (except for the substitute holiday on October 6) and operate free shuttle buses from Seoul, Daegu, Yeongju, and Andong on weekends and public holidays from October 3 to 11.