If you’re heading to the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival (JIMFF), don’t just see a film and leave; turn it into a two-day trip to Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do. In 2026 the Saturday and Sunday programs were especially strong, so sightseeing by day and concerts by night worked perfectly. After mapping real show times, the most realistic plan was Uirimji and the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival on day one, then Forest Resom’s spa and Cheongpung Lake on day two.
When Is the Festival?
As of the 2026 edition, the 22nd JIMFF ran six days, Thursday September 3 to Tuesday September 8, screening 189 films from 45 countries. It’s more than films: concerts, an OST fair, talks, the Music Shelter and the Jecheon Music Film Market all happen at once. In 2026 the opening was Thursday; Friday and Saturday had afternoon concerts and evening K-pop shows; Sunday had a film-music tribute and a free outdoor concert; and the closing ceremony was Tuesday. Saturday and Sunday together made the best travel-and-concert combination.
Day One: Start at Uirimji
Uirimji, one of Korea’s oldest reservoirs, is Jecheon’s signature sight and an easy walk with kids, with tidy scenery for photos. Add the Uirimji History Museum next door if you have time.
During the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival, afternoons fill up, so don’t spend too long in the morning. Arrive around 10 a.m., walk, see the museum and head to lunch.
Lunch: Try Jecheon Herbal Cuisine
Try Jecheon’s herbal “yakseon” cuisine, branded yakchaerak, at least once. City-listed restaurants serve herbal set meals; with kids, choose one that also offers familiar dishes like tteokgalbi or bulgogi.
Afternoon: The OST Fair
We first planned to squeeze in the cable car on day one, but the 2026 timetable changed that. With a 3 p.m. concert and a 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday, the OST fair at Yeopyeoncho Salon (a converted tobacco-leaf warehouse) was far more efficient than driving to Cheongpung Lake and back. In 2026 it ran September 4–7, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., with unreleased film stills, LPs, CDs and merchandise.
Afternoon Concert or Not?
In 2026 the 3 p.m. Saturday show at the Jecheon Arts Center was “Summer Notes,” with singer-songwriters telling stories of film, music and summer through live sets; tickets were 30,000–50,000 won. If you see it, skip the cable car that day: Uirimji, lunch, OST fair, 3 p.m. show, early dinner, 7:30 p.m. concert is already a full day.
Saturday Night: One Summer Night
The highlight of the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival is the outdoor “One Summer Night with K-pop” concert in the Arts Center’s summer plaza. In 2026 both Friday and Saturday featured popular K-pop and indie acts, so pick the night by your favorite artists. Tickets ran 40,000–60,000 won via Melon Ticket. Arrive early for this crowded outdoor show.
Stay at Forest Resom
A day trip to the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival involves a lot of driving, so stay overnight. With Forest Resom as your base, the next morning feels completely different: concerts the night before, then a slow day of spa and lake. With kids, a morning of water play and rest makes the whole trip less tiring.
Day Two Morning: Haevnine Spa
No need to rush after a late night. Have breakfast and start at Haevnine Spa. In 2026 the indoor spa opened 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and the outdoor spa 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekends. Check out after the spa and head to the Cheongpung area.
Lunch in Cheongpung
Eat in the Cheongpung area rather than driving back into town. Local options include a herbal galbi set-meal restaurant and a place serving deodeok and mulberry-leaf sets near Oksunbong. Check menus and opening days ahead.
Cheongpung Lake Cable Car on Day Two
The Cheongpung Lakeside Cable Car is a Jecheon highlight, rising toward Bibongsan with wide views of the lake and ridges. It fits more naturally on day two after the spa than squeezed into a day at the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival. Group places by direction to cut driving time.
Sotdae Culture Space and a Café
After the cable car, slow down at the Sotdae culture space and a lakeside café. With kids, a café stop isn’t just for photos; it’s recharge time.
Finish at the Oksunbong Suspension Bridge
End at the Oksunbong suspension bridge: old Jecheon at Uirimji, music at the festival, then back to nature at the lake. Culture, music, spa and scenery make a balanced family trip.
Staying for Sunday’s Concerts?
In 2026 Sunday had a 3 p.m. film-music tribute concert and the free outdoor “One Summer Dream” from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. It required advance registration, and non-residents needed a receipt showing 30,000 won spent in Jecheon during the festival or a One Summer Night ticket. If you plan to attend, cut back on Oksunbong and the café and return to town by about 2 p.m.
Film Tickets
In 2026, regular screenings cost 8,000 won, the opening ceremony and film 12,000 won, late-night screenings 20,000 won and program events 10,000 won. Online booking opened in mid-August through the official ticket page, until 30 minutes before each screening. Screenshots of QR tickets aren’t accepted. Concerts use Melon Ticket.
Our Recommended Two-Day Route
Day one: Uirimji and its museum, herbal lunch, OST fair, optional 3 p.m. concert or a rest, early dinner and the evening K-pop show. Day two: breakfast and spa at Resom, lunch in Cheongpung, cable car, Sotdae space, café and Oksunbong bridge. If you want Sunday’s concerts, choose one or two lake sights and return early. Anchor the day on one show and add sights around it.
FAQ
- When is the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival held? Early September; in 2026 it ran September 3–8.
- Best days for travel and concerts? In 2026, Saturday and Sunday.
- Same ticketing for films and concerts? No: films on the JIMFF ticket page, concerts on Melon Ticket.
- Is One Summer Dream really free? Yes, with registration and an eligibility receipt or ticket.
- With kids? Limit sights to two or three a day on concert days.
Jecheon Deserves More Than a Festival Visit
Trying to fit Uirimji, the cable car, Resom and the festival into one day doesn’t work with real show times. Jecheon shines when you slow down: walk Uirimji and Cheongpung Lake, eat herbal food, enjoy the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival at night and rest at the spa the next day. Book concert tickets first, then plan the trip around them.
Dates, programs and prices in this guide are as of the 2026 edition. Check the official website for next year’s schedule before you go.
More Family Trips on Yans World
- Jeongseon Arirang Festival 2026 with Kids: A Two-Day Gangwon Trip with the Arirang Museum
- Seocheon Heritage Night Tour with Kids: Hansan Fortress by Lantern Light
- Jeonju Book Festival with Kids: Book Games, Author Talks and a Hanok Village Walk
Schedules and prices can change, so check the VISITKOREA official tourism site before you go.