Ahhhh Spring time... A time of birds chirping, trees blossoming, flowers blooming, butterflies mating....
Koreans love, I mean, LOVE festivals. If there is something to celebrate, they will celebrate it. Come springtime and summer, Koreans kick their festivals and events into high gear, and put on a show for locals and tourists alike. If you're going to be in South Korea this spring, or if you were thinking about visiting--but just didn't know what you could do in that wonderful country that is Korea...wonder no further. Here is a list of a some of the biggest festivals and events S.K. has to offer this year. There's something for everyone, and best of all, most are free!! Check it out!
March15th: Seoul International Marathon For runners and spectators alike.
19th-22nd: Gurye Sansuyu Festival A celebration of the Sansuyu trees (Japanese dogwood or Cornus fruit trees) that begin to bloom in Gurye. Visitors arriving in Sangwi village (the center of the Gurye Sansuyu festival) will be greeted by a riot of yellow blossoms that spread on to the surrounding foot slopes of Mt Jirisan.
27th-31st: Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival Did you know Korea has a long history of bullfighting?? Come here to check it out!
27th-April 2nd: Tongyeong International Music Festival This year’s festival theme is entitled “FLUX” to embrace the various music genres including modern music, classic, jazz and more.
March 27th-April 5th: Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Korea's largest cherry blossom festival. This one is not to be missed!
April3rd-5th: Uljin Snow Crab Festival Go here to eat some crabs!!
*Cherry Blossom Festivals are everywhere this month. If you missed Korea's largest in Jinhae last month, never fear! Here are a few more...*
3rd-5th: Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival
4th-8th: Jeju King Cherry Blossom Festival
11th-13th: Cheongpung Lakeside Cherry Blossom Festival24th-26th: Busan Gwangaili Eobang Festival Celebrate spring and the ocean on one of Korea's most famous beaches.
24th-May 5th: Lotus Lantern Festival The Lotus Lantern festival commemorates the birth of Buddha. This festival provides a great opportunity to experience Korea’s Buddhist culture. “ The 2009 Lotus Lantern festival” will be held in the downtown areas of Seoul, Seoul Plaza, and Jogyesa temple. No matter what part of Korea you are in though, you will see a lot of laterns and festivals.
24th-May 10th: Hampyeong Butterfly Festival Celebrate the butterfly in this little Korean town. A festival to teach about the area's ecology.
May1st: Dano Festival begins in Seoul, Namsangol Hanok (Venue). One of the three biggest holiday celebrations in Korea. It is a traditional food festival that offers prayers in the hope of a good and bountiful harvest in the coming year. Needless to say, visitors have plenty of opportunities to sample local produce and regional specialties. This festival continues until the end of June.
1st-5th: Hadong Wild Tea Festival Hadong is famous for being the first tea plantation site in Korea, and still uses traditional drying methods.
2nd: Buddha's Birthday Go to any temple...it's sure to be pretty awesome...
2nd-6th: Daegu Yangyeongsi Herb Medicine Festival Visitors here will find medicines and merchants from countries such as China, Manchuria, Russia, and Europe.
2nd-10th: Sancheong (Jirisan) Herb Festival his festival celebrates the herbs Mt. Jirisan, which are known to have great medicinal properties, making this the perfect event for all visitors eager to improve their health through natural methods.
8th-11th: Boseong Green Tea Festival Boseong province is the largest tea producing region in Korea and produces a wide variety of specialty teas.
20th-24th: Incheon Bupyeong Festival A special festival featuring Pungmul, or Korean folk music.
22nd-31st: Chuncheon Mime Festival Here you will see a variety of mime and street performances.
June13th-21st: Hansan Ramie Fabric Festival Come check out one of the world's oldest fabric crops!
13th-21st: Muju Firefly Festival Another city celebrating a local ecological treasure. Come here and learn about fireflies!
July3rd-10th: Taekwondo Culture Expo Watch people from all over the world show off their stuff! There will be a variety of events including a Taekwondo expo tournament, an extreme Taekwondo performance, and even get to experience the Jeolla-do culture.
11th-19th: Boryeong Mud Festival July is hot and humid in South Korea. What better thing to do, but go play in the mud!? The Boryeong Mud Festival is one of the most anticipated, and attended festival in Korea by foreigners. Why?? Because you get to play in the mud....for days... Experience the beneficial properties of the Boryeong mud, and also have lots of fun! Visitors enjoy mud wrestling, mud sliding and swimming in the mud mega tub. Those feeling particularly energetic can try the marine mud-training course; whilst those looking for something more chill, can relax in the mud massage zone. In the evening, music and fireworks continue the party on the beach.
Now you have NO excuse not to come to Korea this year! There's plenty to do, and it's all an extremely cultural experience. See you in the mud!!
Most of the information was taken from, and even MORE events can be found on the Official Site of Korea Tourism:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_2.jsp
Spring/Summer Festivals 2009, A list of festivals going on this Spring/Summer in South Korea
Mar 2 2009, 09:18 PM
