Rankings of Nationwide Travel Destinations in Korea for October 2026 | Top 30 Recommended Popular Travel Destinations

Gongju — 4th in the nation · Interest 21,030 — The Baekje Cultural Festival lit up the Geum River and rose to the highest rank in the series.

Gongju rose from 9th to 4th place as interest increased by 4,030 in the past month. It recorded the highest absolute increase among 162 destinations, a result of rising significantly all alone while most seaside travel destinations saw a double-digit decline. The 72nd Baekje Cultural Festival is being held simultaneously in Gongju and Buyeo, and Gongju has prepared the lighting of the sacred flame, a memorial service for the 5 kings of Ungjin Baekje, Ungjin Fantasia, and a drone lighting show under the theme "Bronze Mirror, Shining the Light of 1,500 Years of Baekje.".

The most noteworthy program this year is the newly introduced Gongsanseong nighttime live performance, 'Jeopgyeong: The Night the Queen Crossed.' Starting on the 4th, the Ungjinseong parade follows, and on the Geumgang River Yellow-sailed boat 250 boats will set sail to create a nightscape. Buyeo (ranked 21st, ▲5) is also holding an event in the area around Jeongnimsa Temple Site during the same period, so a 2-day, 1-night itinerary combining the two cities for one day each is a reasonable choice. Since it is chestnut harvest season, it is also worth trying Jeongan chestnut makgeolli and chestnut bread.

Suncheon — Ranked 24th nationwide · Interest 6,370 A book festival is held in the garden, and the reeds of Suncheon Bay turn golden.

Suncheon jumped 11 places from 35th to 24th as interest increased by 1,370. This rise is particularly notable given that most regions in Jeonnam experienced a decline this month. At Suncheon Bay National Garden, the Garden Book Festa "Garden of Oz," themed after "The Wizard of Oz," is being held for three days. Outdoor bookshelves under the shade of trees, artist drawing shows, magic shows, and garden concerts will take place, with some of the programs extending to six independent bookstores in the alleys of the old downtown.

The Suncheon National Heritage Night Tour is held concurrently, featuring walking routes that explore the gardens during the day and the old downtown at night. From mid-October, the reeds at Suncheon Bay Wetland begin to turn yellow, with the color deepening as the month approaches. The highlight of the tour is climbing up to Yongsan Observatory at sunset to look down at the S-shaped waterway. Southern Korean cuisine, such as the cockle set meal and mudskipper soup, is another reason why a trip to Suncheon is a must.

Cheorwon — Ranked 50th nationwide · Interest 2,930 — Gangwon travel destination with the steepest rise in interest, jumping 78.71 TP3T

Cheorwon saw its level of interest increase by 1,290, rising 27 places from 77th to 50th. Its growth rate of 78.71 TP3T ranked second nationwide, as did the magnitude of its rise in ranking. While most of Gangwon Province has been on a downward trend since the summer, Cheorwon’s reversal is attributed to the Goseokjeong flower garden along the Hantan River. The autumn season, in which cosmos, crape myrtle, and cockscomb fill the vast fields, continues until the end of October.

It would be a shame to leave after just seeing the flower gardens. If you combine the Milky Way Bridge and the Hantan River Columnar Joint Trail, you can see the canyon scenery all at once, and there is also a course that overlooks the DMZ area via the Cheorwon History and Culture Park and the Soisan Monorail. The Workers' Party Headquarters Media Art exhibition runs until October 11, making it a great addition to a weekend evening itinerary. Since it is the season for new Cheorwon Odae rice, it would also be a shame to miss the rice set meal.

Mungyeong — Ranked 31st nationwide · Interest 4,740 The Apple Festival rose 19 places as it was extended to the 16th this year.

Mungyeong rose from 50th to 31st place as interest increased by 1,240. This ranks 5th nationwide for the absolute increase and 3rd for the rise in ranking. The 21st Mungyeong Apple Festival is being held under the theme "Mungyeong Apples Loved by Snow White," and the duration has been extended from 9 days in the past two years to 16 days this year, including three weekends. Admission to Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park is free.

Since the festival grounds are located at the entrance of Mungyeongsaejae, a natural route involves walking along the old path connecting the First Gate to the Third Gate after sampling and purchasing apples. The autumn foliage in Saejae Valley begins to change color in late October. As the detailed program has not yet been released, it is advisable to check the official guide before visiting. Yakdol Hanwoo beef and Omija Makgeolli are also foods worth trying in Mungyeong.

Uiryeong — Ranked 104th nationwide · Interest 900 — Ranked 1st nationwide with a growth rate of 95.71 TP3T, jumping 33 spots in the rankings

Although small in scale, Uiryeong saw the steepest rise this month. Interest nearly doubled from 460 to 900. The 5th Uiryeong Rich Rich Festival, featuring Sotbawi Rock said to be imbued with the energy of wealth, was held from October 2 to 5; artists such as Risenne, Woo Won-jae, and Yuk Joong-wan Band took the stage, and EDM parties and fireworks shows continued every night.

Even after the festival ends, there are still things to see. The Uiryeong Gigang Lychee Flower Festival, held at a 7.1-hectare flower garden along the Namgang River, continues until October 25, with pink muhly, aster chrysanthemums, kochia, and pampas grass in full bloom. If you visit Uiryeong, beef soup with rice and manggae tteok are must-try dishes.