EVENTS / FESTIVALS

1. Chuseok

One of the biggest celebration in South Korea where the people visit their ancestors and share a feast of Korean traditional food.  Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. During this period, wheat and fruits thrive yet Koreans mostly eat Songpyeon, it is a rice cake made of beans, adzuki, chestnuts and other grains. The event will last for 3 days and families will give thanks for a bountiful harvest. Furthermore, members of the families will clad with their best Hanbok attire, Korea’s traditional dress.

2. Lotus Lantern Festival

It is one of the most anticipated and elaborate events of the nation where streets are packed with spectacular and multihued lanterns in various shapes and sizes, including dragons, lotuses, elephants, stars, fruits and much more. These multihued lanterns are elaborately made giving off fantastic displays. Lotus Lantern Festival is held in celebration of the birth of Buddha. Thoroughfares will be crowded with spectators taking part of the prepared activities and those who just want to enjoy the revelry. There will be plethora of fun filled events like the sacrificial wish paper-burning event and flying thousands of wish-lanterns into the air. This vibrant event is truly an enlightening experience for all.

3. Andong Mask Dance Festival

The biggest event in Hahoe Folk Village, a rural community in Andong that has been declared as UNESCO World Heritage site. It does not only feature local mask dance performance, but in other countries as well. Andong Mask Dance Festival is one of the top cultural events in the country. One of the highlights of the said event is the Korean traditional fireworks called sunyu-julbul-nori. After watching the festival, a visit in the past at Hahoe Folk Village is worth a tour.

4. Busan Jagalchi Festival

A delectable festival where visitors can enjoy a dish of fresh marine life especially Jagalchi (a popular fish in the city of Busan), served by great restaurants and buy low-priced seafoods. The highlights of the said revelry are the eel relay race, fish dance exhibition, foreigners’ cooking contest and parades of workers dressed in awesome aquatic animals outfit. To add color in Jagalchi Festival, a beauty pageant for ajummas (married women) is on the list of programs. These ajummas are responsible in faming the city for Jagalchi.

5. Hanmaeum Cherry Blossom Festival

When cherry blossoms the most anticipated and splendid season in the country is around the corner-- springtime.To mark this flamboyant season, Hanmaeum Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated. It is held annually on the month of April in Jaya Park, the frequented venue during Hanmaeum Cherry Blossom Festival. During spring, the venue is at its best-- somewhat cold and fresh.

6. Damyang Bamboo Festival

Held in the bamboo center of South Korea, the Damyang. This unique festival usually draws a huge number of people because it displays a one-of-a-kind experience to its visitors like making handmade bamboo crafts and tasting delectable cuisines cooked in bamboo. Damyang Bamboo Festival originated when locals get together to share drinks and foods, which is made from bamboo, after a tiring day of work in their bamboo fields.

7. Pyoseon White Sand Festival

In the long stretch of white sands in Jeju Island, an extraordinary event called Pyoseon White Sand Festival is held. On summer days the stunning beach of Pyoseon are flocked with tourists and beach bums. This is the day where visitors cannot only have fun but at the same time view the quaint sceneries of the surroundings.

8. Chuncheon International Mime Festival

Offers a number of fantastic mime performances in the streets and various mime techniques straight from the experts. The said festival is the leading performing arts festival in the country in which it spreads its fame across the world. It is highly recommended to all people of different ages. Mime festival is a great way to unwind and forget all the worries of your hectic days.

9. Euneungjeongi Festival

A large event held in Jung-gu district in Daejeon and its other areas. There will be folk plays and street performances.  Euneungjeongi Festival is a weeklong celebration where tourists can experience the culture of the city. In addition, a number of exciting events abound with great prizes await the winners.

10. Boryeong’s Mud Festival

Traveling in South Korea in summer is perfect to catch the Mud Festival where there are plenty of spanking new to do activities.  Travelers can have mud baths, mud massages and other mud opportunities. It is deemed that the mud from Boryeong contains natural ingredients that are thought to be excellent in skin. Boryeong’s Mud festival will take place in Daecheon Beach -- another tourist attraction of the country.