Hadong-gun’s flagship event, the Hadong Wild Tea Culture Festival, has earned 6th place in the 2025 Domestic Travel Destination Evaluation and Recommendation Survey by Consumer Insight, marking a significant leap of 34 spots since 2019.
The result highlights Hadong’s reputation as a rising hub for cultural tourism and reflects the success of its thoughtfully curated festival strategy.
Unlike typical rankings based on attendance or sales, this survey evaluates destinations based on visitor satisfaction, originality of content, event planning, and local engagement. Respondents specifically recommended locations they personally found worthwhile, giving Hadong’s tea-centered festival high marks.
Set in Korea’s historic “millennium tea” region, the festival blends tradition with modern experiences, drawing attention for its serene presentation and deep cultural roots.
This year, Hadong expanded its appeal with local artist showcases, culinary collaborations with New York chefs, international tea exchange events, and youth-led food and flea markets, all reinforcing the vision of a sustainable, community-driven festival.
Beyond the Wild Tea Festival, Hadong continues to promote its identity through other seasonal events, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, Jacheop Festival, and the newly launched Hadong Star Taste Festival, a food-focused celebration combining local flavors and innovation.
