Planning to park right outside the festival?
The lots might already be full!
The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, has become a nationwide sensation celebrating gimbap—Korean seaweed rice rolls. You’re probably looking forward to delicious food and lively performances, but driving straight to the entrance can mean wasting precious festival time searching for a parking space.
“We arrived at 11 a.m., and the parking lot was full… We almost turned around!”
Parking lots near the venue fill up early in the morning. The easiest, quickest option is to use one of the city’s outlying park-and-ride locations and take the free shuttle to the festival.
Gimcheon Gimbap Festival: 3 Free Shuttle Hubs
Free shuttles serve three outlying hubs, with options for both drivers and train passengers. Every shuttle picks up and drops off at Jikji No. 2 Public Parking Lot, right in front of the venue, so you won’t face a long walk to the festivities.
1. Gimcheon Sports Town Parking Lot: The Best Choice for Drivers
Route: Gimcheon Sports Town ↔ Jikji No. 2 Public Parking Lot
What to know: This is the main shuttle hub, with 40 of the festival’s roughly 60 buses assigned here. The spacious parking area makes finding a spot easier, and buses turn around most frequently on this route. If you’re driving, this is the destination to enter into your navigation app.
The shuttle boarding area is inside the stadium parking lot.
2. Near KTX Gimcheon (Gumi) Station: For High-Speed Rail Passengers
Route: Gimcheon (Gumi) Station ↔ Jikji No. 2 Public Parking Lot
What to know: A fleet of 14 shuttles serves visitors arriving from other cities by high-speed rail.
3. Near Gimcheon Station: For Conventional Rail and Public Transit Passengers
Route: Gimcheon Station ↔ Jikji No. 2 Public Parking Lot
What to know: Six shuttles serve visitors arriving on Gyeongbu Line Mugunghwa-ho trains, ITX-MAUM trains, and other conventional rail services.
Temporary Changes to Parking Enforcement
During the festival, stopping and parking enforcement will be temporarily suspended at 16 camera locations around the boarding areas. That does not apply to crosswalks or places where parked cars endanger pedestrians, so make sure you leave your car somewhere safe.
Free Shuttle Schedule and Service Breaks You Need to Know
Shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes. However, service pauses for driver breaks and vehicle maintenance, so check the schedule before heading to a stop—you don’t want to get stuck waiting.
Friday, October 23
Morning: 10 a.m.–noon
Afternoon: 1–4 p.m.
Evening: 5–7 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday, October 24–25
Morning: 8 a.m.–noon
Afternoon: 1–4 p.m.
Evening: 5–7 p.m.
Shuttle Service Breaks: Important on All Three Days!
• Lunch break: Noon–1 p.m.
• Afternoon break: 4–5 p.m.
No shuttles operate during these breaks. Keep them in mind when planning lunch, exploring the festival, or deciding when to leave.
Visiting With Kids? Consider Sopung Taxi
One-Way Fares: Up to 4 Passengers
• Gimcheon Station ↔ Jikjisa Temple (festival venue): $6
• KTX Gimcheon (Gumi) Station ↔ Jikjisa Temple (festival venue): $6
• Gimcheon Sports Town ↔ Jikjisa Temple (festival venue): $4
• Check the dedicated app for fares from other locations.
How to Request a Ride and Pay
1. Use the dedicated app: Open the Sopung Taxi app, select your pickup point and destination, and request a ride.
2. Call the dedicated booking line: Call 1877-8293 and provide your pickup point and destination. Your vehicle’s license plate number and boarding details will be sent by text message or KakaoTalk.
3. Pay your driver: Pay the fare shown in the app directly to the driver at the time of your ride.
There’s a booth at each shuttle boarding location.
Good Day’s 2 Practical Tips for Your Visit
1. Don’t Rush for the Shuttle When the Show Ends
Main-stage performances finish at 4:30 p.m. each day. If you head straight to the shuttle boarding area afterward, you’ll arrive during the 4–5 p.m. service break and could end up standing in a long line. Instead, take your time browsing the gimbap stalls and photo spots, then catch a shuttle after service resumes at 5 p.m.
2. Keep Your Shuttle Wristband for Discounts
Wear the wristband handed out when you board the shuttle: it can get you discounts on gimbap at selected festival stalls. Be sure to pick one up and put it on!
Don’t wear yourself out searching for parking before the fun even starts. For an easier Gimcheon Gimbap Festival visit, park at spacious Gimcheon Sports Town and hop on the free shuttle. Here’s to a lovely fall outing with colorful foliage and plenty of delicious gimbap.
Before you head out, feel free to leave a comment if you have questions about checking live CCTV footage for congestion at the Sports Town parking lot or about the program schedule. Likes and follows always mean a lot. Thanks for reading—this is Good Day, signing off!
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