Hampyeong Winter Light Festival Coloring the Winter Night – Want a Quiet Healing Walk?
Introduction
At the tail end of November, when the early winter air slowly turns colder, the area around Hampyeong Expo Park opens the curtain on winter nights as one light after another begins to shine. Walking slowly along the path of light spreading through the deepening darkness, you’ll find yourself setting aside your hectic daily life for a moment and sinking into a quiet, peaceful state of mind.
Hampyeong Winter Light Festival Coloring the Winter Night
Table of Contents
- Guide
- Program Information
- Visit (Planned) Impressions
- Accommodation
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Nearby Attractions
- Getting There
- Closing
- Photo Snapshots
- Videos
- Related News
Guide
- Festival Name : Hampyeong Winter Light Festival
- Period : 2025-11-28 ~ 2026-01-11
- Opening Hours : Weekdays, weekends and public holidays 16:00–21:00
- Venue : Hampyeong Expo Park area and downtown of Hampyeong-eup, 27 Gonjae-ro, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
- Admission : Free
- Host : Hampyeong-gun
- Organizer : Hampyeong Festival & Tourism Foundation
- Inquiries : 061-320-2238
- Address Map Link : View on Google Maps
- 16:00 Arrive at Hampyeong Expo Park and first look around the media art works, the giant Christmas tree, and chrysanthemum sculptures around the central plaza and lawn plaza.
- 17:00 Take a walk focusing on the “Light Maze” and photo zones, and capture pictures with the nightscape lights as your backdrop.
- 18:00 Stop by the snack zone selling roasted sweet potatoes, chrysanthemum bread, tteokbokki and more, along with the local specialty booths, and enjoy a simple dinner-style snack.
- 19:00 Watch performance programs such as busking, jazz, and magic held at the central plaza stage.
- 20:00 Warm up indoors while calmly viewing Hampyeong Memory Workshop, Butterfly & Insect Specimen Exhibition Hall, Plant Exhibition Hall, and the special exhibition at Hampyeong County Art Museum.
- 20:40 Take a short walk out to the downtown streets to enjoy the illuminated city scenery, then return to the festival grounds and stroll through the Light Maze one last time to savor the lingering mood.
As it’s a nighttime festival, it’s best to bring a thick coat, gloves, and a scarf.
The Hampyeong Winter Light Festival is a winter nighttime festival built around the large sculptures used for the Chrysanthemum Expo and the nightscape lighting of Hampyeong Expo Park. Magnificent yet intricate large-scale media art works decorate the night sky, and as you walk along the paths of light, you can enjoy a variety of attractions, food, and hands-on programs.
During the festival period, the park area and downtown streets are bathed in nightscapes where light and art intertwine, offering visitors the feeling of becoming the main character in a fairy tale. Whether you come with family, a partner, or friends, it will be a winter evening walking trail where everyone can stroll and linger at their own pace.
Program Information
There are activities for all ages such as the Light Maze experience, making Rudolph headbands and Christmas trees, wearing Santa outfits, and making glow-in-the-dark bracelets. Props that you decorate and wear yourself against the backdrop of the lights will make your winter night memories shine all the brighter.
During the festival there will be a series of performances such as Christmas marching band shows, carol busking, and theater events. Enjoy the winter mood accompanied by familiar carols, and relish lively outdoor live performances.
The central plaza and lawn plaza are transformed into a nightscape where various sculptures and winter-themed lights come together. Large-scale works by media art artist Lee Lee-nam are also on display, allowing you to appreciate a unique night view created by light and video.
Indoors, venues such as Hampyeong Memory Workshop, the Butterfly & Insect Specimen Exhibition Hall, the Succulent Plant Hall, and the Nature Ecology Hall host exhibitions themed around Hampyeong’s memories and nature. When the cold outdoors starts to bite, they make a great place to step inside and take your time looking around.
At Hampyeong County Art Museum, a special exhibition is held in conjunction with the Winter Light Festival period. In contrast to the dazzling nightscape, you can steady your winter emotions through a quiet time with art.
A pop-up store selling merchandise related to Hampyeong’s characters “Hwangbaki” and “Bbombi” will be open. Choosing small keepsakes you want to own will give you tokens that help you cherish the festival memories for a long time.
Convenience stores, snack booths, and food trucks come together so you can enjoy winter-friendly treats such as roasted sweet potatoes, chrysanthemum bread, and tteokbokki. Holding warm food and drinks in your hands as you walk among the lights makes the cold feel much milder.
Booths selling agricultural and specialty products from the Hampyeong region let you experience local flavors up close along with the festival. Picking up a few items as if you were doing a small grocery run will help you carry the feeling of Hampyeong back home after your trip.
The charm of the festival lies in its night lights, so adjusting your phone’s brightness and exposure when taking photos will help capture the nuances of light more beautifully. If you leave a bit of distance between your subject and the lights, the background will stand out more clearly.
On weekends and Fridays/Saturdays, it can get crowded with visitors, so if possible, visit on a weekday or earlier in the evening, or use public transport for a more relaxed experience.
As you’ll be spending a long time outdoors, be sure to bring warm outerwear, a hat, and gloves so you can comfortably enjoy the activities and performances to the end.
For main performance times, securing a seat early will make viewing more comfortable.
If you feel the cold easily, have some warm snacks and drinks before starting the activities.
Visit (Planned) Impressions
Today is November 30, 2025. The Hampyeong Winter Light Festival is scheduled to run from November 28 to January 11, 2026, so I’m writing this just as I’m about to head into a festival that has only just begun. Thinking of a festival that has only just opened naturally fills me with a sense of excitement for what’s about to unfold.
Throughout the Hampyeong Expo Park area, gentle lights are already preparing their first greeting to wrap the night sky. Large interactive installations like the “Light Maze” have been set up in the park, and once the winter-themed landscape lighting comes on one by one, it feels as though the lights will dance and sparkle in the darkness. The wind will be cold, but I imagine the warmth created by the lights will softly embrace my body and heart, making me want to walk slowly and linger for a long time.
Another thing I’m looking forward to is that the festival doesn’t stop at the grounds themselves but extends its touches of light throughout the downtown streets. I’ve heard that little treasures called “Hwangbaki” are hidden in various places around town, such as the public parking lot and Nabi Harmony Center. It sounds less like a festival you simply see and pass by and more like an experience of walking the town and creating stories together. There’s even news that you can receive a pure gold badge if you take photos and post them with a hashtag, which adds a small thrill.
The opening ceremony has already been held, and the “Panorama of Light” has apparently thrown Hampyeong’s night wide open. Just imagining the moment LED balloons were released into the night sky—and the dark sky filled with tiny lights—makes my heart race with how magical it must have been. Hearing that Lee Eun-mi’s voice felt as if it melted the winter air makes me look forward even more to the moment I’ll actually stand there in person.
When I visit the festival soon, even if the wind is cold enough to make my hands and feet numb, I want to listen more carefully to the small warmth the lights convey. I plan to walk quietly, feeling the winter light that seeps into the park’s walking paths, the lights shining through the tree branches, people’s laughter, the smell of roasted sweet potatoes, and the winter air where my breath scatters. I have a feeling those moments will remain in my memory for a long time as the softest kind of miracle this winter.
Accommodation
If you plan to stay until late at night after the festival, choosing accommodation in the Hampyeong-eup area will make your movements much easier. Look around for places close to the Expo Park, and you’ll be able to end your evening with just a short walk or quick ride.
32 Hampyeongcheon-u-gil, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A hotel-style accommodation located in the center of Hampyeong-eup, conveniently close to the festival grounds.
It’s easy on the schedule, as you can return on foot or with a short drive after viewing the nighttime festival.
Distance: 0.9 km
553 Jupo-ro, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
An accommodation on the outskirts of Hampyeong-eup, ideal for spending a quiet night in a tranquil atmosphere.
Well-suited to travelers who want to combine a short drive with their stay in the nearby area.
Distance: 7.3 km
703 Dolmeori-gil, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A hotel & resort-style accommodation near Hampyeong, suitable for those planning a more relaxed stay or a long-stay trip.
Perfect for a one-night, two-day stay that combines the festival with nearby sightseeing.
Distance: 8.0 km
On weekends and around year-end, rooms can book up quickly, so advance reservations are recommended.
Restaurants & Cafés
Around Hampyeong-eup you’ll find restaurants where you can enjoy quick meals or a warm full meal before or after the festival. As they’re not far from the Expo Park, they’re convenient to visit between viewing sessions or for a late dinner after the festival.
54 Hampyeongcheon-u-gil, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A Korean restaurant close to the center of Hampyeong-eup, offering excellent access to the festival grounds.
Ideal for a hearty meal before serious sightseeing, or as a late dinner spot after your visit.
Distance: 0.7 km
54-11 Jungang-gil, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A great place for meat dishes, where a warm table full of grilled meat will recharge you on a winter night.
There may be a wait on weekend evenings, so it’s good to visit with time to spare before the performances start.
Distance: 0.8 km
96 Sijang-gil, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
Located near the traditional market, it’s a spot where you can enjoy a meal along with the market atmosphere.
Stop by while exploring the market to get a glimpse of everyday local life.
Distance: 1.0 km
101 Daedong-gil, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A Korean restaurant on the outskirts of Hampyeong-eup, nice to visit as part of a leisurely drive.
It suits a course where you have an early dinner before the festival and then head slowly to the Expo Park.
Distance: 2.4 km
3280 Yeongsan-ro, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A café/restaurant near Hampyeong, perfect for a stop in the middle of a drive course.
Visit during the day to relax over a warm drink before heading to the festival grounds.
Distance: 4.7 km
62 Eomda-gil, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A Korean restaurant within driving distance from Hampyeong-eup, great to combine with a short trip around the outskirts.
You might plan a leisurely lunch here, then head to the festival grounds at an easy pace.
Distance: 5.2 km
395 Jupo-ro, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A café located along a quiet roadside, perfect for a brief coffee break during a drive.
Good for warming up with a hot drink before or after the festival.
Distance: 6.7 km
1398-14 Hakdong-ro, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A restaurant on the outskirts of Hampyeong where you can enjoy rural scenery alongside your meal.
It pairs well with a plan to have a relaxed daytime meal and then move to the festival grounds around sunset.
Distance: 9.3 km
Light snacks and food are also sold inside the festival grounds, so it’s fine to enter without being completely full.
Nearby Attractions
If the festival alone leaves you wanting more, consider planning a course that includes parks and nearby attractions around Hampyeong-eup. Spend the day enjoying nature and village scenery, and the night taking in the Winter Light Festival’s nightscape to fill your day completely.
36-13 Gonjae-ro, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A small neighborhood park near Hampyeong-eup, good for a light stroll.
Walk around the park before the festival starts, then head to the Expo Park for a natural flow to your route.
Distance: 0.3 km
Suho-ri, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A riverside park along Hampyeongcheon, ideal for a walk while enjoying waterfront views.
Visit during the day, then move toward the Expo Park around sunset for a recommended course.
Distance: 0.5 km
Hakgyo-ri, Hakgyo-myeon, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A water tower preserving traces of an old train station, a modest spot where you can feel a sense of the past.
Stop by for a quick photo during a nearby drive, then head to the festival grounds in the evening.
Distance: 4.8 km
Gokchang-ri, Hakgyo-myeon, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A place with an impressive reservoir landscape where you can encounter serene nature.
It pairs well with a plan to visit on a clear day and then enjoy the Winter Light Festival at the Expo Park at night.
Distance: 6.4 km
Seokseong-ri, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A field where silver grass (eulalia) creates a charming landscape, offering a different mood in each season.
Enjoy the silver waves of eulalia during the day, and the lights of the festival at night, to create a day of contrasts.
Distance: 6.5 km
67 Jupo Hanok-gil, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
A countryside village of clustered hanok (traditional houses) where you can feel the quiet scenery of southern Korea.
Enjoy a leisurely daytime walk here, then move to the Winter Light Festival in the evening for a change of atmosphere.
Distance: 6.6 km
Seonggyeong Restaurant, 171 Seongnam 1-gil, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do
An alley famous for octopus dishes, great as a gourmet destination if you have time to travel a bit further afield.
You could head to Muan during the day for a meal and a walk, then return to Hampyeong in the evening to enjoy the festival.
Distance: 8.5 km
845 Dongdang-ri, Dasi-myeon, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
A place where the river and ferry dock scenery blend, offering an atmospheric waterfront walk.
Walk along the river during the day, then finish your day by heading to the Hampyeong Winter Light Festival at night.
Distance: 9.7 km
Since your schedule can get long, it’s helpful to check travel times and sunset times in advance.
Getting There
Public Transportation — Take a bus that passes through Hampyeong-eup, where Hampyeong Expo Park is located, get off at a stop near the festival grounds, and walk from there. Checking the routes and timetables of buses departing from Hampyeong Intercity Bus Terminal in advance will make your trip much smoother.
By Car — Set your navigation destination to “27 Gonjae-ro, Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do” to be guided to Hampyeong Expo Park. There are multiple parking lots in and around the park, and as they are free of charge, you can stay until late at night with little burden.
If you plan to return by public transport after your night visit, check the last bus times in advance for a more relaxed trip back.
Closing
The Hampyeong Winter Light Festival is a nighttime event that bathes Hampyeong Expo Park and the downtown area in gentle light between late autumn and deep winter. With large-scale sculptures from the Chrysanthemum Expo, media art, and a variety of hands-on activities and performances, it offers a winter evening walking trail where you can move slowly and let your mind rest, even in the cold air.
As you walk along the Light Maze and pause amid a scene filled with warm snacks and people’s laughter, you may find your feelings toward this season softening without even realizing it. If there’s a winter night when you’d like some quiet healing, consider stepping into the winter lights of Hampyeong.
Photo Snapshots
Videos
