Jeonju Book Festival at a Glance
The Jeonju Book Festival is Jeonju’s signature celebration of books, held around the Jeonju Hanbyeok Cultural Center and the Wanpanbon Culture Center. The 2026 edition ran September 11–13 and went well beyond book displays and author talks, adding a field day, kids’ shows, a family reading quiz and book games. Because the venue borders Jeonju Hanok Village, it pairs easily with a day of sightseeing.
- Theme: “Run, Books!” (9th edition)
- Hours: 10:00–18:00 (book market closes at 17:00 on Sunday)
- Venue: 20 Jeonjucheondong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju; free entry, though some booths charge for activities
Advance registration for some programs opened in August, so check availability for popular ones.
Why the Jeonju Book Festival Is Worth the Trip
This is less a festival that tells kids to read and more one that lets them play with books. About 60 publishers, bookstores and reading clubs ran 73 programs, led by a talk by poet Na Tae-joo, a “life book” gift bookstore, a retro field day and reading-with-music walks. Kids aren’t stuck in chairs: there are outdoor games, shows, crafts and the market, while parents can browse small publishers they’d miss at big chain stores.
Where to Start with Kids
Keep it simple: one pre-booked program, some walk-up activities and one show. Family picks include the family reading quiz (golden bell), a kids’ book-report contest, a storytelling contest and children’s performances; the outdoor stage also hosted taekwondo and madang changgeuk.
- Field day “Running Through Memories”: a book festival field day matching the “Run, Books!” theme, great for active kids
- “Book game master”: part of the special reading experiences with listening reading and library trips; ages and times vary, so check the program page
- Family reading golden bell: parents and kids answer together, using Jeonju’s book of the year; some spots need pre-registration
Author Talks Worth Your Time
Parents will want the author lineup too.
Poet Na Tae-joo, novelist Chung Serang and broadcaster-author Lee Geum-hee joined “Run with Authors,” alongside Jeonju book-of-the-year authors Choi Sang-hee, Yoon Il-ho, Kim Min-woo and Jung Yi-hyun and local writer Jeong Hwi-rip. Opening day featured Na Tae-joo’s celebratory poem and kids reciting poetry. If schedules clash, slot one talk for parents before or after the kids’ activity.
Books and Music Together
The “Reading and Music Walk” stood out: readings with a classical ensemble, poetry with Korean traditional music and a fusion gugak concert. “Listening reading,” where you put your phone away and immerse yourself in a book with music, fits Jeonju’s hanok and gugak character.
Let Kids Choose a Book at the Market
Bookstores and publishers from around Korea set up along Jeonjucheondong-ro. Give your child a small budget and let them find one book they want; browsing covers and flipping pages is the reading experience. The “life book gift bookstore” lets readers give a favorite book and discover another.
Interactive Exhibitions
The special exhibitions invite participation: “Running Questions” collects questions across generations, “Sentence Relay” lets you leave a line or message, “What Kind of Reader Am I?” gives a reading prescription, and “The One Book, for a Reason” shares author and bookstore picks. Try having each family member find a favorite sentence.
Walk On from the Festival
Being in the Hanok Village area is the festival’s biggest travel perk. Jeonju Hyanggyo, with old hanok, stone walls and ancient trees, is a calm reset; tell kids it was a Joseon-era local school and the book theme continues. Jaman Mural Village, across the Omokdae bridge, has murals, cafés and galleries for a light photo walk. Omokdae, linked to Joseon founder Yi Seong-gye, overlooks the tiled roofs and is open anytime, good for an evening stroll. Finish with snacks and dinner in Jeonju Hanok Village.
Our Family Plan for the Jeonju Book Festival
Arrive around 10 a.m. for a booked activity, then the market and booths. Around lunch, catch a kids’ show or family program; in the afternoon, a talk or reading for parents. Late afternoon, walk via Hyanggyo and Omokdae to the Hanok Village. Give the Jeonju Book Festival at least half a day; with 73 programs, arriving without a plan makes things messy.
FAQ
- When? Three days in mid-September (September 11–13 in 2026).
- Where? Around Jeonju Hanbyeok Cultural Center and Wanpanbon Culture Center, 20 Jeonjucheondong-ro.
- Entry fee? Free; some booths charge.
- Kids’ programs? Family reading quiz, kids’ shows, book-report and storytelling contests, field day, book games.
- Need reservations? Walk-up options exist, but some programs require pre-registration.
- Festival and Hanok Village in one day? Yes, they are adjacent.
For bookish kids and active ones alike, the Jeonju Book Festival turns books into a day of choosing, running and leaving a sentence of their own.
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.
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Schedules and prices can change, so check the VISITKOREA official tourism site before you go.