Last updated: August 2026
Quick answer: BICOF (the Bucheon International Comics Festival), now in its 29th year, runs September 18–20, 2026 at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, a short subway ride west of Seoul. Admission is a flat 5,000 won, and the weekend combines webtoon and comics exhibitions with the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival (GICOF) — cosplay competitions, a parade, and a flea market — running alongside it at the same venue.
What Is BICOF, and Why Bucheon?
BICOF is Asia’s longest-running comics festival, held every September since 1998 at the Korea Manhwa Museum — Bucheon has been South Korea’s official “comics city” for decades, home to the national manhwa archive and the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON), which organizes the event. Where K-pop and K-drama dominate Korea’s pop-culture exports abroad, Bucheon is the center of gravity for Korea’s other massive cultural industry: webtoons and manhwa, the vertical-scroll comics that now feed hit Netflix and film adaptations worldwide.
The 2026 edition is the 29th, running Friday to Sunday, September 18–20, with the festival grounds spread across the Korea Manhwa Museum and the neighboring Korea Manhwa Contents Agency building in Wonmi-gu.
What’s on the Program?
Expect a mix of exhibitions on Korean comics history and webtoon art, artist talks and autograph sessions, animation screenings, and “open office” sessions where working webtoon artists demonstrate their process. Small-press and independent creators sell directly to visitors — this is the main annual gathering point for Korea’s comics-making community, not just a fan convention.
Running alongside it at the same site is the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival (GICOF), the festival’s long-running cosplay program: a costume competition, a parade through the museum grounds, anime-song performances, and a cosplay-focused flea market. For anyone into webtoons, manhwa, or cosplay, the two events together make for a full day out rather than a quick stop.
How Much Does It Cost, and Do I Need to Book?
Admission is 5,000 won per day, paid at the gate — no advance ticket is required for general entry. Cosplay competition entrants register separately through the festival’s own channels ahead of time, but spectators can simply show up. Because the museum grounds host both BICOF and GICOF activities across several buildings, budget a few hours if you want to see the exhibitions and catch a cosplay stage show in the same visit.
How Do You Get to Bucheon from Seoul?
Bucheon sits just west of Seoul and is easy to reach on the regular subway network — no KTX or tour booking needed. Take Line 7 to Samsan Gymnasium Station and leave by Exit 5; the Korea Manhwa Museum is about a minute’s walk from there. From central Seoul stations like Gangnam or Konkuk University, the ride runs roughly 40–60 minutes depending on your start point and transfers. If you’re new to the T-money card and subway fares, our guide to getting around Seoul covers the basics before you head out.
Because it’s a same-day subway trip, most visitors base themselves in Seoul rather than staying in Bucheon itself — western neighborhoods like Sinchon or Hongdae sit closest to the Line 7 route in. If you’d rather keep a hotel search simple, it’s worth comparing rooms across Seoul🏨 and picking a stop near a Line 7 or Line 2 station for the easiest ride out.
Quick Summary: BICOF 2026
- Dates: September 18–20, 2026 (29th edition)
- Venue: Korea Manhwa Museum, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do
- Admission: 5,000 won at the gate, no advance ticket needed
- Also on-site: Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival (GICOF) — competition, parade, flea market
- Nearest station: Samsan Gymnasium (Line 7), Exit 5, ~1 minute walk
- Official site: bicof.com
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