보성다향대축제

Korea's green tea culture is most visible in Boseong, where rows of bright-green tea bushes cover the hillsides of Daehan Dawon plantation in a pattern that has become one of the most photographed landscapes in the country. The festival, in its 49th edition in 2026, runs over five days in early May when the first harvest flush is at its peak. The 2026 theme, Boseong Matcha: Capturing Youth, Capturing the World, reflects an expanded programme of matcha tastings, crafts, and pop-up experiences alongside traditional tea-ceremony workshops and plantation walks.

Take the KTX from Seoul to Gwangju Songjeong Station (about 1 hour 50 minutes), then a local bus or taxi to Boseong (about 1 hour). Direct intercity buses from Seoul Honam Bus Terminal reach Boseong in about 3 hours. The Daehan Dawon plantation is a short taxi ride from Boseong Bus Terminal.

The plantation entry fee (around 3,000 to 4,000 won) is separate from festival admission. Early morning visits offer cooler temperatures and better photography light on the terraced rows. Festival workshops sell out on weekends; the festival website has advance booking in Korean. The plantation is scenic year-round, but May gives you both fresh tea and the festival.