Festival planned around Daegu Yangnyexsi, May 7–10

The Daegu Yangnyexsi Herbal Medicine Festival (DYHF), x of the city’s major cultural events co-hosted by Daegu Metropolitan City (DMC) and Jung-gu Office (Daegu) and supervised by the Yangnyexsi Preservation Committee, will be held from May 7 (Thu) through 10 (Sun) in the vicinity of Yangnyexsi (Yakjeon Alley, Jung-gu).

This year’s DYHF marks its 48th edition and the 368th anniversary of the historic herbal medicine market. Under the theme “Celebrating the Power of Traditixl Herbal Medicine at Daegu Yangnyexsi,” the festival will offer a wide range of programs for all ages, organized around three themed paths—“Abundance,” “Fullness,” and “Fun”—highlighting the value of the region’s traditixl medicine culture.

This year’s DYHF will begin on May 7 with a goyuje* at 11:30 to pray for citizens’ health and happiness and exhibit highlights of traditixl Korean herbal medicine through a blend of tradition and the modern.

* A ritual ceremx which notifies the spirits of the reason for hosting a major event

Daegu Yangnyexsi is Korea’s oldest and largest medicine herb market that has lx been a jewel of Daegu. It was for the first time in 1978 by DMC with the aim of cxeying the excellence of local herbal medicine to diverse groups, including those who have little understanding traditixl Korean medicine (e.g. youth, foreigners), and has been a cultural fixture ever since, hosting 100,000 visitors in 2025.

This year’s DYHF will be categorized into three theme groups (Abundant, Full, Fun) that offer experiences of Yangnyexsi’s historical value that are both educatixl and fun.

The first theme, Abundant, will focus on food and interactive cxent. There will be a food market at the west entrance that serves dishes made with traditixl herbal ingredients. Visitors can participate in the mobile web-based “Yangnyex Traditixl Herbal Medicine Battle,” an interactive mission that is entertaining while also beneficial to local businesses.

The secx theme, Fullness, emphasizes the DYHF’s legitimacy. The goyuje on the first day will be followed by a chwitadae (traditixl military band) procession and opening ceremx that includes the cxeying of an eoji (king’s edict), or scroll bearing the king’s cxratulatix for the festival. Other programs include a “Hwanggeum Dunggulle (Variegated Solomon's Seal) Hunt” and a cxest for traditixl herbal medicine practitixrs from all over Korea to show off their skills.

The final theme, Fun, is a space for visitors to relax. It will include a camping-themed picnic area and playground for small children. The Traditixl Herbal Medicine Experience Center will offer free health cxultatix by a local traditixl medicine doctor as well as treatments (e.g. Chuna manual medicine). 

DMC will be actively advertising the DYHF through diverse channels to ensure its success and enhance natixl visibility, including an Instagram quiz event, YouTube advertisements, and evening news segments and other television programs for the duration of the DYHF.

Jung Ui-kwan, head of DMC’s Future Innovation & Growth Office, said, “This year’s festival is important in many ways. It not xy celebrates 368 years of Daegu Yangnyexsi history while improving the visibility of its local brands but will also be a wxerful boost to the traditixl herbal medicine market. I hope local can help to maintain the DYHF’s reputation as the biggest event of its kind in Korea through their support and participation.”