Planning an autumn trip to North Jeolla with kids? Pair the Jinan Red Ginseng Festival with Maisan Mountain for two days. The festival is held every autumn in Jinan, and its grounds sit close to the Maisan North tourist area, so you can combine a food festival with nature and history. Programs change each year, so book lodging and plan the big route first, then check the official website.
Jinan Red Ginseng Festival Basics
The 2026 Jinan Red Ginseng Festival ran from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20. The official website featured a red ginseng theme hall, red ginseng bingo, a red ginseng kkakdugi (radish kimchi) festa and cooking programs. Entry was free, though some activities may cost extra.
The main venue was expected around Maidon Theme Park in north Maisan, so check the official festival map for the exact location.
Who It Suits
It suits families who prefer local food, hands-on activities and nature walks over flashy rides. For elementary kids, you can link how red ginseng is made with Maisan’s unique landforms for a field-trip-style visit.
If you’re pushing a stroller for long periods or can’t manage mountain paths, skip the full Maisan traverse and stay around the festival grounds and the north tourist area.
Suggested Two-Day Route
Day one focuses on the Jinan Red Ginseng Festival: arrive in Jinan at 11 a.m., check the program, visit the red ginseng theme hall and family activities, lunch at the festival, an afternoon show or cooking activity, a walk in the Maisan North Starlight Sound Garden, then stay in Jinan-eup or north Maisan.
Day two is for Maisan: arrive at the north parking lot at 9 a.m., pass Cheonhwangmun, Eunsusa Temple and Maisan Tapsa, continue toward the south parking lot if energy allows, and after lunch pick Yongdam Lake or the Jinan Plateau Forest Healing Center.
Maisan’s official trail from the north lot via Cheonhwangmun, Eunsusa, Tapsa, Tapyeongje Pond and Geumdangsa to the south lot is 3.3 km and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. With kids, photos and breaks, plan 2.5 hours or more.
Parking and Getting Around
By car, use the festival’s official temporary parking on day one and the Maisan North tourist area lot on day two. Access roads and parking may change during the festival, so check the venue map.
Walking from north to south leaves your car on one side. For an easy outing with kids, go from the north lot to Tapsa and back.
Admission and Estimated Costs
As of 2026, the Jinan Red Ginseng Festival had free entry, with some paid activities. Check temple and facility fees in Maisan and festival parking with the Maisan management office and official notices before you go.
For two adults and one child, budget roughly 100,000–150,000 won for meals and snacks, 20,000–50,000 won for activities, 100,000–200,000 won for lodging plus transport, about 250,000–450,000 won for two days.
Food and Cafes
Festival food booths are handy but may have few kid-friendly options. Have lunch at the festival on day one and try local dishes like Jinan black pork, sundae gukbap or mountain greens for dinner.
For cafes, choose the Maisan North tourist area or Jinan-eup.
Pros and Cons
The upside is pairing the festival and Maisan at close range, with a good balance of history, nature and food. It makes a clearer two-day story than a big-city festival.
The downside is stairs and slopes on Maisan trails. If it rains, cut back the hike and switch to a red ginseng spa or indoor programs.
FAQ
- When is the Jinan Red Ginseng Festival held? Every autumn; the 2026 edition ran September 18–20.
- Is there an entry fee? Entry was free; some activities may cost extra.
- Can kids walk to Maisan Tapsa? Elementary kids can, but there are stairs and slopes, so wear sneakers and take breaks.
- Is a day trip possible? Yes, but two days lets you enjoy both the festival and Maisan comfortably.
- Can we use a stroller? Much of the festival grounds is stroller-friendly, but Maisan trails are limited by stairs and slopes.
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.