Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival
🗓️ 2026.10.30 ~ 2026.11.08
For those seeking a blend of horticultural artistry and ancient heritage, the 23rd Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival offers a curated experience that transcends a simple flower show. Spanning ten days from October 30 to November 8, 2026, the event takes place within the grounds of Gungnamji—a landmark of significant historical importance in Buyeo.
Under the overarching theme, “Chrysanthemums, Piecing Together Fragments of Autumn,” the festival creates a sensory intersection where the delicate beauty of the chrysanthemum meets the enduring legacy of the Baekje Kingdom. What distinguishes this event from other floral festivals is its commitment to cultural storytelling; rather than generic displays, the festival features monumental chrysanthemum sculptures that replicate specific historical icons, such as the Sabi Gate and the Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner.
To organize this vast display, the festival grounds are meticulously partitioned into five themed spaces, each designed to evoke a specific atmosphere:
- Fragments of History: An exploration of the region’s past.
- Fragments of Landscape: Wide-scale botanical arrangements that mirror natural scenery.
- Fragments of Connection: Spaces designed to bridge the gap between the visitor and the environment.
- Fragments of Scent: An immersion into the olfactory qualities of the blooms.
- Fragments of Healing: Areas dedicated to tranquility and mental repose.
Beyond the visual spectacles, the event incorporates a variety of interactive elements—ranging from food trucks to promotional sales activities—ensuring that visitors have a diverse array of engagements throughout their visit.
Event Programming
The festival is structured around three primary tiers of engagement:
- Main Program: The central attraction consists of the extensive exhibition of professional chrysanthemum works, showcasing the technical skill required to shape these flowers into complex forms.
- Side Program: The festivities officially commence with a formal opening ceremony.
- Consumer Participation Program: To encourage active involvement, the festival hosts chrysanthemum tea ceremonies, specialized experience booths, and the sale of local specialties. These are complemented by small-scale busking performances that provide a rhythmic backdrop to the exploration.
Visitor Information
đź“Ť Address: Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
🛏️ Accommodation near the event
đź’° Fee: Free
đź“ž Inquiry: 041-830-2591
🖥️ Website: https://www.buyeo.go.kr/html/bcfestival/
What is Gungnamji?
Gungnamji is an artificial pond in Buyeo, South Korea, built in the sixth century during the Baekje Kingdom. The name means “Palace South Pond,” referring to its position south of the royal palace complex in Sabi, the Baekje capital at the time. The pond served a practical function as a water source for the palace and was also part of the broader landscape design of the capital, reflecting the kingdom’s investment in public works and formal garden architecture.
Today the site is open to the public as a heritage attraction. Its main features are a stone pagoda, pavilions, and a pond covered with lotus plants in summer. The layout is simple, and visitors can walk around the water along established paths. During the Buyeo Chrysanthemum Festival, chrysanthemum arrangements are placed around the pond, providing a seasonal display that complements the historical setting. At other times of the year, the site is relatively quiet and offers an uncomplicated view of what remains of the palace grounds.
