Known as a nation of majestic landscapes, exotic cuisine and great bargain shopping, Korea also celebrates a fascinating cultural heritage through numerous exciting festivals. These festivals feature hands-on demonstrations, local food samplings and native cultural performances. The brochure Korea: Cultural Festivals 2003 (Jan. – June) highlights the regional festival sites and offers information on transportation, accommodations and nearby visitor attractions. The festival line-up includes:

Traditional Korean Beverage & Cake Festival (March 29 – April 3, 2003)
The traditional culinary culture of Korea is showcased in Gyeongju, an ancient city rich in history and culture, dubbed the “museum without walls.”

Yeongam Wang-In Cultural Festival (April 4-7, 2003)
Yeongam is the birthplace of many distinguished scholars, including Wang-In, who introduced the Analects of Dr. Confucius.

Jindo Yeongdeung Festival (April 16-19, 2003)
Held when the tide drops seven meters to part the sea between Hoidon village and Modo Island, the festival is steeped in the Confucian traditions of the region.

Hansan Ramie Fabric Festival (May 1-6, 2003)
Hand-woven Hansan Ramie, cultivated since the Baekje Kingdom, was sent as a tribute to the kings during the Joseon dynasty. Artisans demonstrate how the fabric becomes transformed into apparel.

Tripitaka Koreana Festival (May 1 – 9, 2003)
Korean Buddhist culture is displayed at the Haeinsa Temple and Mt. Gaya, a renowned mountain in Korea. A sampling of traditional temple dishes will provide a unique insight into Buddhist culture.

National Bullfighting Festival (May 2 – 5, 2003)
Showcase of the bullfighting culture in Korea, which is markedly different than that in Spain. Here bulls fight each other, and not a matador.

Hampyeong Butterfly Festival (May 3 – 11, 2003)
Tens of thousands of butterflies soar among an ocean of flowers situated within a 33 million square meter site in Hampyeong.

Jirisan Herb Festival (May 3 – 7, 2003)
The festival provides a wonderful opportunity for visitors wishing to experience the world of mysterious Oriental medicine as well as a forum to sample and buy products that are good for the health.

Namwon Chunhyang Festival (May 4 – 9, 2003)
Held in honor of Chunhyang, the literary heroine of a classical love story, the festival is the oldest traditional cultural and art festival in Korea.

Daegu Yak-ryeong-si Festival (May 7-11, 2003)
Yak-ryeong-si is the traditional medicinal herb market in Daegu, which has distributed Oriental medicines throughout the nation for more than 350 years.

Chuncheon International Mime Festival (May 27 – June 23, 2003)
Theater groups invited from around the world to perform their unique interpretations of mime-based programs.

To receive a free copy of the brochure Korea: Cultural Festivals 2003 (Jan. – June), contact the Korea National Tourism Organization at 800/TOUR-KOR(ea).