Hoengseong Deodeok Festival
The 13th Hoengseong Deodeok Festival will take place over three days from September 11 to 13, 2026, at the Nonggeori Festival Grounds in Cheongil-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Under the theme “Delicious Deodeok, Joyful Festival, Exciting Cheongil,” the festival highlights Hoengseong deodeok and local agricultural products grown in the region’s clean natural environment.
Throughout the festival period, visitors can enjoy food experiences using deodeok, browse various food booths, and stop by exhibition and sales areas run directly by local farmers. The program also includes a Nonggeori Dance Competition and hands-on experience programs, giving visitors a chance to take part rather than simply watch. At its core, the event is a celebration of local culture and community, centered on deodeok, one of Hoengseong’s most representative agricultural products.
Festival Details
- 🗓️ Dates: 2026.09.11 ~ 2026.09.13
- 📍 Address: Yudong-ri, Cheongil-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
- 🛏️ Accommodations near the event
- 💰 Fee: Free
- 📞 Inquiry: 033-340-2831~5
- 🖥️ Website: https://deodeok.info/
Main Programs
The festival’s main programs are designed around deodeok and encourage active participation:
- Finding the Golden Deodeok
- Deodeok Olympics
- Deodeok Digging Experience
- Deodeok Bibimbap Performance
Main Performances
- Opening and Closing performances
- Resident autonomy performances
- Etc.
Special Event
- Nonggeori Dance Competition
Food
- Sales outlets for various agricultural products including deodeok
- Various restaurants and food trucks
- Tasting of deodeok and Hanwoo beef
- Etc.
Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) is a perennial root vegetable in the bellflower family, native to Korea and other parts of East Asia. It grows wild on rocky mountain slopes, but commercial cultivation now supplies most of the market. The root is long, white, and gnarled, with firm flesh that holds its shape during cooking. Its flavor is mildly sweet and nutty, and grilling brings out a deeper, more pronounced nuttiness.
A common preparation is deodeok gui: thick slices brushed with soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic, then grilled until the surface is golden and the nutty aroma is clear. The cooked root is served as a side dish or alongside rice. Deodeok also appears in namul, a seasoned vegetable dish, where it is typically dressed with sesame oil, garlic, and scallions. It can be pickled, dipped in batter and pan-fried, or simmered in porridge. In traditional Korean medicine, the root has been used for respiratory and digestive complaints and is sometimes grouped with ginseng as a restorative herb.
The Hoengseong Deodeok Festival, held annually in Hoengseong County, is one place to sample a wide range of preparations. Vendors and local cooks serve the root grilled, battered, and seasoned; growers display fresh roots and answer questions about cultivation and storage. For anyone unfamiliar with deodeok, the festival offers a practical introduction to a vegetable that remains a standard ingredient in Korean kitchens.
