South Korean regional festivals to showcase mobility and local food industries

South Korea will host two major regional festivals focusing on mobility and local food industries.

The 2026 Korea Tuning Car Festival will take place in Gimcheon from the 30th to the 31st. Organized by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the event aims to showcase future mobility technologies. It features participation from AI and autonomous driving companies like Kakao Mobility and A2Z, alongside various automotive associations. The festival includes a new ‘World Bike Stunt Competition’, off-road racing, and educational programs for students to foster talent in the mobility sector.

In Yeosu, the 2026 Jeonnam Gwangju World Gimbap & Salt Festival will be held from the 9th to the 11th at the Yeosu Expo Convention Center. The event highlights the region's seaweed (gim) and sea salt industries, which are vital to the local economy. Programs include cooking classes with Chef Jung Ho-young, salt history lectures, and various food-related experiences. The festival aims to promote K-food and support the growing seaweed export market, which has seen significant growth in recent years.