GWANGYANG — Autumn in Gwangyang, a city in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, is reaching its most flavorful moment.
The faint scent of charcoal drifts along the Seocheon riverside, and the sweet aroma of grilling bulgogi stops passersby in their tracks. Along the river, where cosmos flowers sway in the breeze, the city's food, festivities, history and scenery come together.
Gwangyang said it is inviting visitors to pair the 22nd Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival, running from the 16th to the 18th along the Seocheon riverside in Gwangyang-eup, with trips to local attractions and autumn scenery. This year's theme is "The Taste of Gwangyang! Connected Through People."
Food centered on Gwangyang bulgogi, along with performances and hands-on programs, will fill the festival grounds. Added to the lineup are the first Gwangyang Tourism Day, a reenactment of the Gwangyang magistrate's procession, and a promotional event for day-and-night travel in the city. Visitors will find the city's cuisine, history, culture and autumn landscapes gathered in one place.
The Taste of Gwangyang, Rising From the Charcoal
Gwangyang bulgogi sits at the heart of the festival. Meat goes onto the glowing charcoal, where sweet marinade and rich juices come together. A single bite is more than a dish — it is a culinary memory built from the city's history and the hands that shaped it.
A charcoal-grill theme hall on the grounds covers the history of Gwangyang bulgogi, how it is prepared and what sets its flavor apart. It is a space where visitors can see for themselves why the dish came to represent the city and what kind of life and culture it carries.
Hands-on programs built around charcoal and bulgogi are also planned. Throughout the festival, visitors can make charcoal deodorizers, charcoal dolls and charcoal soap, craft Gwangyang bulgogi magnets, and assemble keyrings of Maedori, the city's mascot character. The activities are play for children and keepsakes for adults, and even the scent of charcoal left on the fingertips becomes part of the trip.
The alleys of Gwangyang-eup open onto an older era that day.
On the 17th, the 2026 Gwangyang Magistrate's Procession Reenactment will be held along Munhwa Wonnim-gil in Gwangyang-eup. The street parade will involve about 300 participants. Following the route once traveled by the old magistrate, the history and daily life of Gwangyang-eup come back into view.
Performances will also be staged partway through at the Gwangyang History and Culture Center. The walking route becomes a stage, and the alleys tell long-held stories. It is a moment where the town's present and past meet. Once the procession reaches the festival grounds, the night heats up with an opening ceremony, invited performances and fireworks.
A day that begins with a traditional procession and closes with charcoal smoke and fireworks — it is the fullest way to take in autumn in Gwangyang.
Crafts by Day, Performances and Fireworks by Night
The festival grounds take on a different face by the hour.
Craft programs greet visitors during the day, including floral art, aroma perfume making and wildflower potting. Street magic and performances by local troupes are also on the schedule, filling the grounds with laughter and applause.
On the 17th, a Gwangyang Municipal Traditional Music Orchestra performance, a madanggeuk outdoor play and a ssireum wrestling tournament follow one after another, bringing traditional festivity and local energy to the grounds. The mood grows warmer in the evening, with an opening ceremony, celebratory performances and fireworks, followed by a garden party set to EDM.
The festival also includes a ceremony marking the first Gwangyang Tourism Day, to be held at the main stage. A booth run by the Gwangyang Tourism Council will introduce local attractions and travel products.
Discount tours are available as well, offering major attractions and activities at special rates. Discount levels vary by participating business.
A Gwangyang Tourism Trail stamp tour will also run, taking part in which involves visiting the festival grounds, nearby attractions and participating businesses to see more of the city along the way. Visitors can join through a QR code on the governance partner map. Sales of local tourism partner products and a Maedori character doll-grabbing game are also planned.
Jazz performances and a standing party follow in the evening. A promotional event titled "Gwangyang Travel That Shines Day and Night" and a Namdo Food Street visit month event will be held alongside. Visitors who pick up tourism information at the grounds and then head to the Gwangyang Bulgogi Specialty Street and nearby attractions can take in the city's flavor and character more fully.
Cosmos Along the Seocheon, a Journey Spreading Into Autumn Blooms
Autumn is generous beyond the festival grounds as well.
Cosmos flowers bloom along the Seocheon riverside, swaying gently in the river breeze. Walking that path and continuing on to the Gwangyang Bulgogi Specialty Street turns the season's scenery and the region's flavors into a single course.
An autumn flower exhibition runs through the 18th at the test plot of the Gwangyang Agricultural Technology Center, where 54,000 plants across seven varieties, including chrysanthemums, salvia and marigolds, color the garden. Admission is free and parking is available. A wide lawn garden, an herb hall and a succulent plant hall are also open. It is a space suited to families looking for an unhurried walk.
A trip to Gwangyang does not end at the festival grounds. From the Panorama Walk at the summit of Mount Gubongsan, Gwangyang Bay, the Gwangyang Works steel mill and Yi Sun-sin Bridge come into view at once — a landscape shaped by industry and nature together, offering a 360-degree view of the city's scale.
The Baealdo Island Garden offers views of the point where the Seomjin River meets the sea. Waterways, wind and the island's atmosphere combine to provide a different kind of ease from the festival.
Dalbit Beach on Haebichi-ro suits travelers looking for a quieter stretch of coast, a place to step away from the bustle of the festival and meet a calmer side of the city.
Park1538 Gwangyang, operated by POSCO, offers a look at the history and technology of the steel industry. Reservations are required in advance, and the site is closed on Sundays. Visitors should check reservations and viewing schedules on POSCO's website before going.
"The Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival is a good starting point for an autumn trip, where visitors can enjoy the taste and festivity of Gwangyang while also encountering the region's history, culture and tourist attractions," said Lee Hyun-joo, director of the city's tourism division. "We hope visitors to the festival will explore different parts of Gwangyang to suit their own tastes, whether on a day trip or a more leisurely itinerary."