Jeju Festival Guide: Three Days of Silver Hairtail at Seogwipo Port
When you think of October on Jeju Island, South Korea, silver grass and tangerines probably come to mind—but this Jeju festival guide has something tastier in store.
Down in Seogwipo, fall is all about hairtail season!
And this year, the Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival is back again.
Now in its seventh year, the festival officially opens this evening, October 8.
Here’s the schedule and everything worth knowing before you go.
Jeju Festival Guide: Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival Essentials
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Festival Details at a Glance |
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Item |
Details |
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Festival |
7th Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival |
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Dates |
Thursday, October 8–Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
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Opening Ceremony |
Thursday, October 8, at 6 p.m. |
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Venue |
Special event stage at the East Pier of Seogwipo Port |
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Host and Organizer |
Seogwipo Fisheries Cooperative |
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Sponsors |
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives |
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday:
the festival runs for three days, making Saturday an easy addition to a weekend trip to Jeju.
It takes place at Seogwipo Port, specifically the East Pier,
so you can easily combine your visit with Saeyeongyo Bridge and Cheonjiyeon Falls.
Galchi-gui (grilled hairtail), galchi-jorim (braised hairtail), and galchi-guk (hairtail soup):
all three belong on your fall food bucket list for Jeju.
Why Is Seogwipo Silver Hairtail So Famous?
Silver Hairtail: Seogwipo’s Signature Fall Catch
Jeju hairtail have shimmering,
silver bodies—hence the name eungalchi, or “silver hairtail.”
The waters off Seogwipo are particularly warm,
drawing plenty of hairtail. On fall evenings, the fishing boats spread across the dark sea with their fish-attracting lights glowing—a spectacular sight.
Rather than using nets, many fishers catch silver hairtail individually with a hook and line,which helps protect their scales and preserve that beautiful silver sheen.
That might be why this year’s Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival slogan includes the words “the breath of the fishers”—a lovely nod to the people behind the catch.
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Don’t Miss the Silver Hairtail Festival Fireworks Seogwipo’s Night Sky Lights Up Thursday, October 8, at 9 p.m. |
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Item |
Details |
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Date and Time |
Thursday, October 8, at 9 p.m. |
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Location |
Over the water at Seogwipo Port’s East Pier |
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Good to Know |
Opening night only! |
The fireworks show takes place today only, on the festival’s opening day.
Catch the opening ceremony at 6 p.m.,
grab dinner, then stay for the fireworks at 9 p.m.—that’s your evening sorted.
Picture fireworks bursting over the dark water with the red lighthouse in the background.
You can practically see the photos already.
Even among Seogwipo festivals, chances to watch fireworks over the sea like this don’t come along every day. If you’re near Seogwipo today, I’d absolutely make time for it!
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Enter the Short-Form Video Contest with Just 30 Seconds Film It, Star in It, or Create It with AI |
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Award |
Number of Winners |
Prize |
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Grand Prize |
1 winner |
About $298 in Tamnaneunjeon credit |
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Excellence Award |
1 winner |
About $186 in Tamnaneunjeon credit |
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Akkop Award |
10 winners |
About $7 in Tamnaneunjeon credit |
Of everything at this year’s Silver Hairtail Festival,this is the event that really caught my eye.
The idea is simple: promote the festival with a 30-second short-form video.
How you make it is completely up to you!
The Akkop Award takes its name from akkopda, a Jeju dialect word meaning “cute.”
How adorable is that?
Prizes are paid in Jeju’s local currency, Tamnaneunjeon,rather than cash.
How to Enter
Create a vertical promotional video no longer than 30 seconds.
Filming, editing, animation, and AI-generated content are all allowed.
Upload it to your own social media account on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.
Submit the post URL and your entry details through Naver Form.
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Contest Timeline |
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Item |
Schedule |
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Submission Deadline |
Saturday, October 10, at 6 p.m. |
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Judging Period |
Sunday, October 11–Wednesday, October 14 |
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Results Announced |
Thursday, October 15; winners will be contacted individually |
You can simply film at the festival, edit your footage, and upload it right away.
What to Know Before Visiting
A Quick Checklist Before You Go
Opening ceremony: 6 p.m. Fireworks: 9 p.m. Today only!
Expect crowds just before 9 p.m., so claim your viewing spot a little early.
Head to the special event stage at Seogwipo Port’s East Pier.
Short-form video contest entries close Saturday at 6 p.m.
Bring a windbreaker or cardigan—it’s right by the sea.
Nearby parking may be busy, so leave yourself extra time.
For a Jeju festival, this one really delivers: seaside scenery, local food, and fireworks all in one place.
A tripod will make filming much easier, too.
Honestly, the Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival is hard to beat.
If you’re visiting Jeju in October, use this Jeju festival guide to work it into your itinerary!
And when it comes to hairtail, are you team galchi-gui or team galchi-jorim— grilled or braised?
I’m firmly on team braised. Tell me your pick in the comments!
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