A fall festival featuring meditation and yoga among silver grass will take place on Binae Island in Chungju, where silver reeds along the Namhan River shimmer in the light. The Angseong Hot Springs Tourism Association, a nonprofit organization, will hold the 2026 Binae Island Festival Nov. 7-8 at Angseong Hot Springs Plaza and across Binae Island in Angseong-myeon, Chungju. Now in its fourth year, the festival is sponsored by Chungju City and CJB.
Meditation and yoga among the silver grass, with four river-gazing retreats
The festival’s first theme is rest. Meditation and yoga sessions will be held in the silver grass fields, and beanbag chairs will be set out at four “river-gazing” retreats where visitors can sit quietly and look out at the water. Two more rest areas will have shade canopies and camping chairs. Live busking, atmospheric performances and DJ sets will continue against the backdrop of Binae Island’s scenery.
For anyone curious about meditation but unfamiliar with sitting in a quiet room with their eyes closed, this kind of setting can be a welcoming introduction. As you listen to the silver grass sway in the wind, stretch your body and gaze at the river, your thoughts begin to slow on their own. The specific times and instructors for the meditation and yoga sessions have not yet been announced. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
The province’s only national wetland protected area; no opening ceremony or single-use items
Binae Island is Chungcheongbuk-do’s only national wetland protected area. The island was formed by sand and gravel carried downstream from the upper reaches of the Namhan River, and its stands of silver grass put on a spectacular display each fall.
Organizers have reshaped this year’s event as an ESG festival focused on cutting carbon emissions and protecting the environment. “No CO2, No Plastic” is its guiding principle. The festival will forgo official opening and closing ceremonies and restrict single-use items at the venue. Shuttle buses will also run to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Nature walks with environmental guides, an AR challenge and an academic seminar
There will be plenty to enjoy beyond the meditation program, including opportunities to walk and linger. Activities include an ecological tour of Binae Island with an environmental guide, a “Lemon Tree” where visitors can hang wishes, photo spots along the trail and a Binae Island AR challenge participants can join on their smartphones. A flea market selling natural-material and lifestyle products, vintage and antique items, and handmade accessories will also open, along with a local farmers’ market.
On Nov. 7, a seminar on the shared development of Binae Island’s environment and tourism will be held at Kensington Resort, where participants will discuss ways to advance wetland conservation alongside local tourism.
Woo Jae-gyu, chairman of the Angseong Hot Springs Tourism Association, said the festival had shifted to an ESG format this year because Binae Island is an ecological treasure blessed with pristine natural surroundings. He said he hoped visitors would find healing in nature and come to appreciate the island’s value.
Event Information
Event: 2026 Binae Island Festival
Dates and hours: Nov. 7 (Saturday)-8 (Sunday), 2026, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Angseong Hot Springs Plaza and Binae Island area, Angseong-myeon, Chungju
Organizer: Angseong Hot Springs Tourism Association / Sponsors: Chungju City, CJB
Admission and registration: The organizers have not announced an admission fee or advance registration details. Check on-site for the meditation and yoga schedule.
Transportation: Parking on Binae Island is limited. Park at Angseong Hot Springs Plaza and take the shuttle bus.
Contact: Chungju City Tourism Division, Tourism Marketing Team, 043-850-6720
Press inquiries: fare3041@naver.com