Press Release Source Pyeongchang County Tourism Division Contact Tel: 033-330-2761 Fax: 033-330-2592 Hyo-seok Cultural Festival Honoring a Legendary Novelist, Celebrating Buckwheat Blossoms - September 8-September 17 The Hyo-seok Cultural Festival is dedicated to Lee Hyo-seok, a pre-eminent, early 20th -century novelist, and the buckwheat flowers of Bongpyeong, made famous by his short story ‘When Buckwheat Blooms,’ a masterpiece of the Korean literary canon, set in Bongpyeong county. The festival is held each year at the height of the blossoming season, amid snowy-white fields of buckwheat flowers. A tourism-oriented cultural event, the Hyo-seok Cultural Festival also intends to serve as an annual occasion for promoting environmental awareness. The festival features a writing contest in honor of the Bongpyeong native who immortalized the local plant in prose, a literary award in his name, activities in buckwheat blossom fields and buckwheat dish tasting. A full palette is in store of traditional festivities like jigyeongdajigi (‘earth spirit rite’), chita (an ancient military parade) and other folk performances, along with activities like seopdari (bridge made of twigs)-crossing, and reenactment of a traditional market. The buckwheat-themed festival is sure to be a hit with all lovers of nature and traditional culture. http://www.bongpyong.co.kr