Gangwon Tourism Foundation Recommends Samcheok Rose Festival and Yanggu Gomchwi Festival as May Travel Destinations

by Lee jonggu

Published 24 Apr.2026 08:43(KST)

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation announced that they have selected Samcheok City and Yanggu County as the recommended travel destinations for May as part of the 2026 Gangwon Visit Year and will launch a large-scale promotional marketing campaign. In May, they plan to focus on promoting the "Samcheok Rose Festival," a celebration where roses bloom against the backdrop of the blue sea, and the "Yanggu Gomchwi Festival," where visitors can savor the flavor of gomchwi (Ligularia fischeri) grown near the clean Demilitarized Zone area.

Promotional Poster for Recommended Travel Destinations in May during Gangwon Visit Year (Samcheok). Provided by Gangwon Tourism Foundation

The recommended travel destination in Samcheok, the "Rose Festival," will be held from May 19 to 25 at the Osipcheon Rose Park and surrounding areas. The spectacle of 130,000 rose bushes spanning 218 varieties will captivate visitors with a vibrant display of red hues, and during the festival, nighttime light displays and a variety of performances will create romantic spring evenings.

The recommended travel destination in Yanggu, the "Gomchwi Festival," will take place from May 2 to 5 at the Seocheon Leisure Sports Park area. In addition to gomchwi sales, the festival will feature a range of family-friendly programs such as cookie house making and an eco-friendly wooden playground.

To commemorate the selection of May's recommended travel destinations, Yanggu County will offer free admission to the Yanggu County Park Soo Keun Art Museum throughout the month. In addition, Yanggu City Tour participants can enjoy complimentary admission to paid tourist attractions on designated days: Dutayeon and the Yanggu White Porcelain Museum on Fridays, the Yanggu County Park Soo Keun Art Museum on Saturdays, and the Eulji Observatory on Sundays.

To celebrate Gangwon Visit Year, a variety of exciting events will be held to make travel more enjoyable. The "Benefit GO Gangwon Travel" event rewards visitors with a 30,000 won Gangwon Gift Certificate for verifying accommodation payments of 60,000 won or more, and a 10,000 won gift certificate for general purchases of 50,000 won or more. There is also the "Gangwon Tourism Bingo Challenge," where visitors can win prizes by verifying visits to major tourist attractions. In addition, residents outside of Gangwon can apply for the "Gangwon Resident Card" on the Gangwon Benefits Easy website to receive year-round discounts at over 300 affiliated locations throughout the province.

Promotional Poster for Recommended Travel Destinations in May during the Gangwon Visit Year (Yanggu). Provided by Gangwon Tourism Organization

Details on discount conditions and eligibility can be found on the Gangwon Visit Year website, and visitors can also discover recommended May destinations and the diverse charms of Gangwon tourism through the Gangwon Tourism Foundation's Instagram channel.

Choi Sunghyun, CEO of Gangwon Tourism Foundation, stated, "To celebrate May, the month of family, we have prepared abundant festivals and practical discount benefits. We hope you will enjoy the vibrant scent of roses in Samcheok and the healthy flavor of gomchwi in Yanggu, and experience the perfect spring getaway in Gangwon."