Hadong Wild Tea Culture Festival is making final preparations for its 29th edition, set to run from May 1 to 5 as Hadong County positions the event as one of Korea’s major Golden Week holiday attractions.

Held under this year’s slogan, “Rising Excitement, in Hadong,” the festival will once again center on the county’s famed wild tea fields at the foot of Jirisan Mountain, while expanding its lineup with a broader mix of traditional tea culture, culinary programs, family activities, and eco-conscious experiences.

Among the headline attractions is a special exhibition at the Hadong Wild Tea Museum featuring more than 120 historic tea-related artifacts, including Song and Goryeo dynasty tea utensils.

Traditional tea ceremony contests, blending competitions, and a themed outdoor performance inspired by late Joseon tea figures Cho-ui and Kim Jeong-hee will also take place during the festival.

This year’s event also introduces a stronger food component, including a live cooking show with international chef Mikael and pastry creator No Jeong-hee, alongside a seasonal tea food exhibition and local gourmet booths using Hadong ingredients.

Scenic tea field walking paths, music concerts, themed photo zones, and nighttime atmosphere programs are designed to highlight the natural landscape surrounding the tea plantations.

With Children’s Day falling during the festival, organizers are adding family-focused AI mission games, treasure hunts, drone claw machines, and interactive play areas for younger visitors.

Reusable containers will also be used throughout food zones as part of a larger push to make the event a more sustainable eco-friendly festival.

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu

Kunsan Air Base