The Gentle Tug of the Spring Sea, Ripples of Flavor: Trip to the Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival
Introduction
At the tail end of winter, when the scent of steaming fresh razor clams drifts through the cold sea breeze, I’m reminded of Namdang Port in Hongseong. As the quiet sound of waves rolls in, I start dreaming of a trip where I can feast my eyes and palate alike while waiting for in-season razor clams to be served at the table. This winter, with that sense of anticipation in my heart, I’m planning to head straight to the festival grounds myself.
Contents
- Guide
- Program Information
- Visit (Planned) Impressions
- Recommended Stays
- Restaurants & Cafes
- Nearby Attractions
- Getting There
- Closing
- Photo Snapshots
- Videos
- Related News
Guide
- Festival Name : Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival
- Period : 2026-01-17 ~ 2026-04-30
- Opening Hours : 9:00 ~ 24:00
- Location : 1-1, Namdanghang-ro 213beon-gil, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (around Hongseong Namdang Port)
- Admission : Free (restaurant charges not included)
- Main Event Stage : Special stage at Hongseong Namdang Port
- Hosted/Organized by : Hongseong Namdang Port Festival Promotion Committee
- Inquiries : 010-5433-8196
- Signature Dishes : Razor clam shabu-shabu and various seafood dishes
- 11:30 Arrive at Namdang Port and stroll around the harbor, taking in the winter sea scenery.
- 12:30 Enjoy a hearty lunch of razor clam shabu-shabu and seafood dishes at a restaurant near the festival grounds.
- 14:00 Wander around the special stage area at Namdang Port, browsing razor clam stalls and the night market.
- 15:30 Watch the razor clam shelling contest and audience-participation performances to soak in the festival atmosphere.
- 17:00 Move on to the Namdang Sunset Observatory or the Marine Fountain Park to enjoy the sunset and sea views.
- 19:00 Wrap up your day with performances by Korean singers and evening programs, accompanied by a warm, comforting soup dish.
Every winter in and around Namdang Port in Hongseong and Cheonsu Bay, plump, in-season razor clams are caught in abundance, and the harbor becomes livelier than ever. Known for their chewy yet tender umami flavor, razor clams are rich in protein, iron, taurine, and essential amino acids, making them a beloved winter health food. The festival is timed so visitors can enjoy these razor clams to their heart’s content.
The Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival is a seasonal event that runs from midwinter into early spring. The harbor fills with seafood stalls, steaming hot soup dishes, and a variety of performances and hands-on programs, drawing many travelers. Warming your body with a bite of shabu-shabu in the sea breeze and watching the sun sink beyond the harbor creates a unique winter memory that belongs to Namdang Port alone.
Program Information
Throughout the festival, a special stage at Namdang Port hosts spectacular performances by top Korean singers. Enjoy a lively winter night as trot and pop performances come together with audience interaction.
The festival’s signature program, the Razor Clam Shelling Contest, lets you try shelling freshly caught razor clams on the spot and feel the satisfying handiwork. It’s a fun way to compete to see who can prepare razor clams most skillfully within a set time, creating great memories.
A visitor singing contest stage is open to everyone, regardless of age or gender. Sing a song with the winter sea as your backdrop to shake off everyday stress and take home small prizes and memories.
Through cultural performances by local arts groups, you can experience a variety of culture and performing arts from Hongseong. Stages blending tradition and modernity make the festival even more entertaining.
During the festival, a vibrant night market operates around the harbor. Along with razor clam and seafood dishes, there are simple street foods and warm snacks to fill your stomach on chilly winter nights.
Visit (Planned) Impressions
Today is January 16, 2026, just one day before the opening (January 17) of the Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival. I’m planning to visit soon. Just thinking of the cold winter sea breeze and the savory warmth of razor clams already fills me with excitement.
The 23rd Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival will be held from January 17 to February 22, 2026, at the special stage in Namdang Port, and the sale of razor clams will continue afterward until April 30. In recent years, parts of the festival were reduced or modified due to the lingering effects of heatwaves, but with the catch now recovering, it’s expected that the festival will regain its original atmosphere, with razor clams once again at its heart.
The festival is designed not just as a gourmet event but as an experiential festival that combines the razor clam shelling contest, street performances, and trot stages, which makes it all the more exciting. At the opening ceremony, singers such as Na Hyun-min, Mini Mani, and Yang Ji-won are scheduled to perform. I can already picture the scene where the night sea, stage lights, and cheers from the crowd all come together.
I plan to bundle up against the cold and welcome the festival while imagining a steaming bowl of razor clam shabu-shabu. Thinking of the briny scent of the sea in the dawn breeze, the sound of waves, the dim glow of lights behind the stage, and the sound of people laughing, I find myself looking forward even more to the warmth and joy I’ll soon experience on-site.
Recommended Stays
If you want to enjoy the Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival at a relaxed pace, it’s best to book accommodation within about 10 km by car. Around Namdang Port and the nearby Boryeong and Taean areas, you’ll find lodgings scattered along the coast and in nature, so you can choose according to your schedule and route.
1061-175, Hongbo-ro, Cheonbuk-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Located near Cheonsu Bay in Boryeong, this accommodation is convenient for car travel and works well when combined with visits to nearby fishing villages.
A good choice if you’d like to use the festival grounds as a base and explore the wider Boryeong area.
Distance: 4.1 km
21-8, Hongnamseo-ro 707beon-gil, Gyeolseong-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
Located near a quiet walled-town village, this spot is ideal for enjoying traditional architecture and a tranquil atmosphere.
If you plan to combine the razor clam festival with an inland trip in Hongseong, allow some buffer time in your route and visit at a relaxed pace.
Distance: 6.4 km
118-3, Yeosuhae-gil, Anmyeon-eup, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
An ocher (hwangto) pension near Anmyeondo in Taean, perfect for combining a seaside trip with a relaxing stay.
Well suited to itineraries that include both the razor clam festival and the beaches of Taean by car.
Distance: 9.4 km
Restaurants & Cafes
Around Namdang Port, you’ll find many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy razor clam dishes, a variety of seafood, and coffee. Since they are within walking or short driving distance from the festival grounds, it’s easy to fit meals and tea breaks naturally into your schedule.
96, Namdanghang-ro 213beon-gil, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A cafe near Namdang Port, ideal for a warm drink after exploring the festival grounds.
A convenient spot to drop by when you want dessert and a break after a razor clam meal.
Distance: 0.9 km
2-36, Namdanghang-ro 79beon-gil, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A sashimi restaurant where you can enjoy seafood from around Namdang Port, including in-season seafood and razor clam dishes.
During the festival, there may be waits at mealtimes, so visiting a bit early can make for a more relaxed experience.
Distance: 1.2 km
1, Namdanghang-ro 72beon-gil, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A cafe where you can enjoy coffee while taking in the scenery around Namdang Port, perfect for savoring the afterglow of a seaside trip.
The view from the windows is especially impressive if you visit at sunset.
Distance: 1.2 km
1061, Hongbo-ro, Cheonbuk-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
A place that sells and cooks oysters and other seafood, ideal for tasting Boryeong Cheonbuk oysters along with the razor clam festival.
A good stop when you want to extend your itinerary toward Boryeong by car.
Distance: 3.6 km
1061, Hongbo-ro, Cheonbuk-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
A grilled oyster specialty restaurant in Cheonbuk-myeon where you can enjoy charcoal-grilled oysters and other seafood dishes.
If you’re planning both the razor clam festival and a grilled oyster trip, drive over and enjoy a leisurely meal.
Distance: 3.7 km
860, Namdanghang-ro, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A cafe located a little away from Namdang Port, nice to visit as part of a driving course.
A good place to escape the crowded atmosphere around the festival grounds and enjoy some quiet time.
Distance: 5.8 km
31, Guseongnam-ro, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) specialty restaurant where you can enjoy hot soup and noodle dishes, perfect for filling up on a winter trip.
A convenient lunch stop when passing through inland Hongseong before or after visiting the festival.
Distance: 6.9 km
117, Ganwoldo 1-gil, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
A cafe near Ganwoldo where you can enjoy coffee while looking out over the sea and islands.
If your itinerary includes both Hongseong Namdang Port and Ganwoldo in Seosan, consider visiting around sunset.
Distance: 9.1 km
Nearby Attractions
If you combine the razor clam festival with the coastal scenery around Namdang Port and light sightseeing in the Hongseong, Boryeong, and Taean areas, your day will feel much richer. Within about 10 km by car, you’ll find observatories, temples, lakes, and fishing village experience communities, making it easy to plan a route that suits your interests.
171, Namdanghang-ro, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A marine fountain park created near Namdang Port, great for walks and photo spots.
Very close to the festival grounds, making it ideal for a quick visit before or after a meal.
Distance: 0.4 km
Namdang-ri, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A viewpoint where you can take in the West Sea sunset at a glance, especially beautiful at dusk.
If you visit in time for sunset after the festival, you can capture photos of both the sea and the setting sun.
Distance: 0.8 km
Sin-ri, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A lake surrounded by wetlands where you can enjoy both migratory birds and natural scenery.
A fitting course for those who want to drive out from Namdang Port and enjoy peaceful natural landscapes.
Distance: 2.4 km
131-31, Hongnamseo-ro, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A temple located along a mountain slope, offering a serene atmosphere where you can rest your mind for a while.
A nice place to visit when you want some quiet time that contrasts with the lively festival grounds.
Distance: 3.2 km
689, Namdanghang-ro, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
An observatory facility from which you can overlook the surrounding sea and fields at a glance, enjoying sweeping views.
On clear days, you can enjoy expansive views of Namdang Port and the Cheonsu Bay area.
Distance: 4.3 km
25, Jisan 5-gil, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A temple nestled among forest paths, where you can enjoy walks that change with the seasons.
If you have access to a car, it makes a good half-day course combined with Namdang Port.
Distance: 5.6 km
349, Daeya-ro, Anmyeon-eup, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A recreational village where you can enjoy both fishing village experiences and sea views, particularly popular with families.
If you want to extend your trip toward Anmyeondo in Taean, it’s worth checking out the available experience programs.
Distance: 9.4 km
Haengsan-ri, Galsan-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
A shrine honoring independence activist General Kim Jwa-jin, where you can quietly explore a site steeped in history.
If you’re interested in Hongseong’s historical sites as well as the razor clam festival, it’s worth setting aside time for a visit.
Distance: 9.4 km
Getting There
Public Transportation — No specific transportation information is provided in the public data. From Hongseong Intercity Bus Terminal or nearby cities, consider taking a local or rural bus toward Seobu-myeon/Namdang Port, then walking or taking a taxi from the bus stop to the festival grounds.
By Car — Set your navigation to “Hongseong Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival” or “1-1, Namdanghang-ro 213beon-gil, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do.” Parking lots are expected to be crowded during the festival period, so it’s best to arrive with plenty of time before performances to allow for parking and walking time.
Closing
The contrast between the cold air of the winter sea and a steaming bowl of razor clam soup vividly evokes the unique charm of the Namdang Port Razor Clam Festival. As you freely enjoy in-season razor clams and take in performances and night markets with the harbor as a backdrop, you’re likely to carry a lingering sense of warmth with you even in the middle of winter.
This winter, if you find yourself craving a bowl of razor clam shabu-shabu along with the briny scent of the sea, a short trip to Namdang Port in Hongseong might be just the thing. The festival’s scenes—waves and laughter mingling together—will offer a small but welcome break from your busy daily routine.
