Sangju kicks off preparations for 2027 dried persimmon festival

The city of Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province announced Wednesday that it has launched full-scale preparations for the 2027 Sangju Gotgam Festival, holding the first plenary meeting of the Sangju Gotgam Festival Organizing Committee.

The meeting brought together committee members and relevant civil servants to share the festival's basic direction and action plan, and to exchange ideas on how to make the event a success.

Participants decided to hold the three-day festival from Jan. 22 to Jan. 24, 2027, at Taepyeongseongdae Gyeongsang Gamyeong Park. Discussions covered the event program lineup, strategies to promote gotgam — dried persimmons — and ways to boost sales.

"Sangju gotgam is the city's signature local product, with a long history and proud tradition," Sangju Mayor An Jae-min said. "We will prepare thoroughly so that the 2027 Sangju Gotgam Festival becomes a meaningful celebration where farming households, residents and tourists can all enjoy themselves and the excellence of Sangju gotgam can be widely recognized."