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Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival

연천구석기축제

A May festival at the Jeongok-ri Paleolithic site in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi, where visitors engage with prehistory through stone-tool making, shelter-building, and survival experiences set at the first East Asian site where Acheulean hand-axes were found.

May 2 – 5, 2027(tentative)Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi
Dates are tentative. Confirm on the official site before booking travel.

About this festival

The Jeongok-ri site overturned the long-held assumption that Acheulean hand-axes were exclusive to Africa and Europe, making it one of the most scientifically significant Paleolithic sites in East Asia. The annual festival uses this as a starting point for imaginative, hands-on experiences: flint-knapping workshops, fire-making, and immersive prehistoric scenarios for all ages. Now in its 33rd edition and newly designated by MCST for 2026-2027, the festival draws families and history enthusiasts from across the Seoul metro area.

Getting there

Take Gyeongwon Line commuter rail from Seoul Sinimun Station to Jeonggok Station (about 1 hour 20 minutes). The festival site at Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Museum is a short walk or free shuttle from Jeonggok Station during the festival. By car from Seoul it is about 1 hour via Expressway 37.

Tips

Admission is free for most programmes. The prehistoric museum at the site has English-language displays worth visiting before the outdoor activities. The festival is held outdoors on a wide riverside plain; sun protection and comfortable shoes are essential. Yeoncheon is close to the DMZ, and some visitors combine the trip with a border tour.

Dates by year

  • 2027

    May 2 – 5, 2027

    tentative

Source: Manual editorial. Last verified 2026-05-09.