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FestivalAutumn 2026

Busan Illustration Fair

부산일러스트레이션페어

This edition · Data as of · Published · Compiled by

Korea's illustration fairs are where its huge stationery-and-sticker culture meets the artists who draw it, and Busan's — “Bu-il-pe” to fans — fills a BEXCO exhibition hall with around 600 booths of independent illustrators. You buy stickers, washi tape, postcards, keyrings and plush straight from the people who made them, collect free stickers by following artists on Instagram, and spin a lucky draw at almost every booth. The 2026 edition (V.7) runs 6–8 November (Friday to Sunday) in BEXCO Exhibition Center 2, Hall 4; adult tickets ₩11,000. We read Korean blog posts from people who went in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Busan Illustration Fair
Photos: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type3). Shown uncropped, as supplied.

What’s on

From the 2026 programme filed with the Korea Tourism Organization (checked 4 October); the organiser says it may change. Hours: 6–7 Nov 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), 8 Nov 10:00–17:00 (16:30).

BEXCO Center 2, Hall 4

Artist boothsWalk-inPay for what you buy
6–8 Nov
Around 600 booths of illustration, picture books, zines, character design, webtoon and calligraphy. Most run lucky draws (mostly ₩2,000 last year).
Sold through Naver (Korean) in past years — scan the QR at the kiosk on arrival to get a wristband. Tickets were also sold at the door.
Check availability on Ocreo · Naver →
Competition winners exhibitionWalk-inIncluded with entry
6–8 Nov
Work by the illustration competition winners.
Keycap zone, photo spots, drawing wallWalk-inIncluded with entry
6–8 Nov
Artisan keyboard keycaps on show, and a wall everyone draws on.
Stamp tourWalk-inIncluded with entry
6–8 Nov
Gifts ran out early in the afternoon in past years.

Sources: the Korea Tourism Organization listing (2026 dates, fees and programme) and past visitors' posts (parking, draw prices).

The essentials

Dates2026-11-06 – 2026-11-08
WhereBEXCO Exhibition Center 2, Hall 4, 55 APEC-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan
CostAdults and teens ₩11,000 · children and disabled visitors free (limited super-early-bird ₩6,000)
OrganisersOC Makers (+82 2-2602-8602)
Address부산광역시 해운대구 APEC로 55 (우동)
Contact02-2602-8602 · busanillustrationfair.co.kr/
ProgrammeAbout 600 artist booths, a competition-winners exhibition, keycap zone, stamp tour and drawing wall — see “What’s on” below.

What 30 visitors said

We searched Naver, the blog platform most Koreans use, for posts written during each fair and the month after (30 a year), read every one to the end, kept only visitors (24, 26 and 20), and took ten per year. Posts by exhibiting artists, official supporters and sponsored writers were dropped, and no writer is counted twice. Every number counts the posts that mentioned something.

What people liked

Endless, lovely artist goods16 of 30 posts

Stickers, washi tape, postcards, keyrings, plush — with fair-only discounts 23-02 23-09 23-15 23-20 23-22 23-24 24-03 24-04 24-16 24-29 25-02 25-06 25-11 25-14 25-20 25-25

Follow an artist, get a free sticker13 of 30 posts

Instagram-follow giveaways and extra stickers with purchases 23-01 23-08 23-09 23-17 23-22 24-03 24-24 24-29 25-02 25-07 25-14 25-20 25-25

Lucky draws, stamp tour and exhibitions13 of 30 posts

Booth lucky draws (mostly ₩2,000), a keycap showcase, poster exhibitions 23-08 23-16 24-03 24-04 24-10 24-16 24-21 25-04 25-06 25-07 25-11 25-14 25-20

Meet the artists in person9 of 30 posts

Artists explain their work; a row of overseas artists 23-15 23-20 23-22 24-03 24-21 24-24 25-04 25-11 25-29

What people struggled with

Crowded and draining15 of 30 posts

Busy even on a weekday; popular booths need queues or numbered tickets 23-01 23-02 23-15 23-17 23-20 24-10 24-16 24-19 25-02 25-07 25-11 25-14 25-20 25-25 25-28

Huge — your feet will hurt8 of 30 posts

Two to four hours for one lap 23-02 23-15 23-16 23-17 23-22 24-11 25-25 25-29

Freebies and popular items go early7 of 30 posts

Stamp-tour gifts gone by 2pm; giveaways and limited goods sell out 23-22 24-03 24-10 24-14 24-16 24-21 24-29

Some booths don’t take cards3 of 30 posts

Cash or bank transfer only at some booths, including overseas artists 23-02 24-21 25-02

These are raw counts, not percentages. Someone who did not mention something is not someone who disagreed.

Who goes, and when

Of the 11 posts that say who they went with, seven went with friends, three as a couple and one alone — overwhelmingly diary-decorating (“dakku”) fans. Some drove from Daegu and further. Spending ran from a few thousand won to over ₩500,000. Even weekday openings were busy; Saturday was the worst.

Who they went with

With friends7 of 30 posts
As a couple3 of 30 posts
Alone1 of 30 posts

19 of the 30 posts did not say.

Time of day

Day into night4 of 30 posts
Afternoon9 of 30 posts
Morning5 of 30 posts

12 of the 30 posts did not say.

Visiting from abroad

In 2024 overseas artists — from Indonesia, Taiwan and elsewhere — had a row of their own, and in 2023 a Malaysian picture-book artist had added Korean translations. One visitor couldn't buy from an overseas booth that took cash only. Shopping needs little Korean: prices are on the goods and artists are used to pointing. The follow-for-a-sticker giveaways need an Instagram account. Tickets were sold on Naver (Korean); buying at the door also worked.

Weather and crowds

It is indoors, but hot and packed inside. Seventeen of the 30 posts call it crowded; on a rainy weekday in 2024 one writer still found it suffocating, and one year the wristband queue took 45 minutes.

Getting there and access

Take the metro — Line 2 to BEXCO or Centum City station. The fair is in Exhibition Center 2, and several visitors went to Center 1 by mistake: cross the road at the BEXCO plaza and it is on the right. Drivers used the BEXCO car park (₩450 per 10 minutes, ₩15,000 a day in 2025), the Shinsegae Centum City store or the cheaper Udong market public car park. There are paid lockers on the ground floor of Center 2.

No post mentions wheelchairs. Aisles get jammed, with people walking against the flow. There is a cafeteria and rest area inside, and same-day re-entry with your wristband.

Year by year

Autumn 2023

7–10 September (V.4). Busy from the door even on the weekday opening; instant caricatures and independent-publishing booths were popular. ₩10,000, or ₩9,000 booked ahead.

Autumn 2024

1–3 November (V.5). A collaboration booth with food brand Ottogi and a sea-themed exhibition. Packed even in heavy rain on day one; stamp-tour gifts ran out by 2pm.

Autumn 2025

21–23 November (V.6). A keycap showcase, the Poster Busan exhibition and BEXCO's 30th-anniversary stamp card; most said it was bigger than the year before. The first 1,000 each day got a free mouse pad.

Tips from people who went

  • Go at opening, or at weekends in the last hour or two
  • Mark the booths you want on the entrance leaflet or the organiser's Ocreo app
  • Bring cash, a power bank, a tote and a clear folder for flat goods
  • Head for Exhibition Center 2, not 1
  • Same-day re-entry means you can step out for a break
  • First-come giveaways are gone by early afternoon

The 30 posts we read

  1. 23-01 · 2023-09-08 부산 일러스트레이션페어 V.4 다녀온 후기 (현장등록 및 할인, 관람 ....
  2. 23-02 · 2023-09-08 부산일러스트레이션페어 :: 시간 삭제! 생각보다 더 재밌었던 부일....
  3. 23-08 · 2023-09-08 2023 부산 일러스트레이션페어 후기
  4. 23-09 · 2023-09-08 [부일페 관람 후기] 2023 부산일러스트레이션페어 (V.4) 관람 후기
  5. 23-15 · 2023-09-10 부산 일러스트레이션페어 vol4 방문후기 | 문구용품부터 티셔츠, 독....
  6. 23-16 · 2023-09-10 주말엔 부일페 BIFV.4
  7. 23-17 · 2023-09-10 [Weekly diary] 2023.09.03-2023.09.09
  8. 23-20 · 2023-09-10 2023 부산일러스트페어 부일페 첫 관람 후기 (귀여운 게 잔뜩 내 지갑....
  9. 23-22 · 2023-09-11 부산일러스트레이션페어V4. 부일페 후기 및 하울 1탄
  10. 23-24 · 2023-09-11 2023 부산 일러스트레이션 페어 / 벡스코 부일페 선예매 없이 반값 할....
  11. 24-03 · 2024-11-01 부산 일러스트레이션 페어 V.5 - 부일페 36주차 만삭 임산부 일상
  12. 24-04 · 2024-11-01 2024 부산일러스트레이션페어(부일페) vol.5 방문기; 1
  13. 24-10 · 2024-11-02 2024 부산일러스트페어 관람 후기. 티켓가격, 이벤트, 이번 주말 부산....
  14. 24-11 · 2024-11-02 2024년 부일페 부산 일러스트레이션페어 V.5 방문 후기
  15. 24-14 · 2024-11-03 2024 부일페 관람 후기
  16. 24-16 · 2024-11-03 부산 다꾸인의 축제 부일페 5주년 부산일러스트레이션페어V.5
  17. 24-19 · 2024-11-03 2024 부산 일러스트 페스티발 다녀 온 후기 ~ 벡스코 주차 팁
  18. 24-21 · 2024-11-03 [24.11.1~3] 부일페: 부산 일러스트레이션페어 후기
  19. 24-24 · 2024-11-04 [2024 부일페V5] 2024 부산 일러스트레이션 페어 V5에 다녀왔습니다!! (24....
  20. 24-29 · 2024-11-04 다섯번째 부일페에 참여하고 와서 정리한 굿즈들
  21. 25-02 · 2025-11-21 2025 부산 일러스트레이션페어 V.6 후기❣️
  22. 25-04 · 2025-11-21 부산 벡스코, 부산일러스트레이션페어 부일페 첫날 다녀온 후기
  23. 25-06 · 2025-11-22 2025 부일페 부산일러스트페어 첫방문 후기 귀여운 신세계!
  24. 25-07 · 2025-11-22 부산 일러스트레이션 페어 V.6 부일페 방문 후기
  25. 25-11 · 2025-11-23 부산 일러스트레이션페어 V6 노마 하나비 엽서 다꾸 스티커 볼거리 ....
  26. 25-14 · 2025-11-23 2025 부산일러스트레이션페어 vol.6 방문기; 1
  27. 25-20 · 2025-11-24 2025 부산일러스트레이션페어 관람 후기♂️
  28. 25-25 · 2025-11-30 2025.11(2)
  29. 25-28 · 2025-12-05 [부산 벡스코] 2025 부산 차 공예 박람회(하) (2) & 일러스트레이션페어....
  30. 25-29 · 2025-12-07 11월

All posts are in Korean. We summarise them in our own words rather than quoting.