Gangwon

Hyoseok Cultural Festival

*The information below is based on the 2025 festivals. Details for the 2026 festivals will be updated as they become available.*Korean novelist Lee Hyo-seok is from Pyeongchang, Gangwon State, and is known for his novels that combine stories with the beauty of nature. The Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival, held every autumn in Bongpyeong, the setting of his famous work “When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,” celebrates his legacy and showcases the region’s beauty. The festival runs a variety of literary programs, such as an essay contest, a poetry event, and bookmaking. In the evening, there are small-scale literary and music performances to add to the romantic charm of the festivities. During the festival, the fields near the village are filled with white buckwheat flowers, creating a spectacular view as though they were waves of white snow rippling in the wind. A key highlight of the festival is capturing memorable photos against the backdrop of the buckwheat fields, which are the most cherished mementos of the event. ◎ The short novel “When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,” published in 1936, is a beloved work that captures themes of love and humor set against a buckwheat field. In September, Bongpyeong reaches the peak of its beauty with fields of white buckwheat flowers in full bloom. Official location: 157 Ihyoseok-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do. Plan this visit using the official information above as the baseline. Operating hours, admission conditions, programs, access rules, and parking arrangements can change after this review, so confirm the latest notice on the linked official website before departure. This is especially important when a visit depends on a particular exhibition, guided program, seasonal activity, reservation, or accessibility service. Hyoseok Cultural Festival (평창효석문화제) is presented here as a destination rather than as a commercial listing. The description focuses on the setting and visitor experience documented by the Korea Tourism Organization. Respect residential, religious, ecological, and cultural-property rules where they apply, and use the official contact for questions that affect access or safety.