For the second half of 2006, 30 festivals have been chosen as cultural and tourism events. Throughout the summer and autumn you can enjoy any number of these events, especially in September and October. The season officially comes to a close in November. Come and be a kid once again at the Boryeong Mud Festival in July, you can enjoy a mud fight and other summertime beach events. When the heat of summer hits its peak in August, try the Muan White Lotus Festival to enjoy beautiful white lotus flowers or the Jin-do Sea Parting Festival to witness nature’s mysterious parting of the waters. Other festivals worth seeing in August are the Hansan Daecheop Festival, which reenacts a famous historical sea battle scene of Korea, and the Pepper Festival in Goesan, a region famous for its red pepper production.

In fall, exhilarating events and shows of international scale will be held: the Andong International Mask Dance Festival and the Gimje Horizon Festival, both a celebration of Korea’s beautiful rice fields; the Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival, and the Bonghwa Red Pine Mushroom Festival, where you can pick your own wild pine mushrooms; or the Geumsan Ginseng Festival and the Punggi Ginseng Festival, both having the world-famous Korean ginseng as its main product. On a more cultural note, you can choose among the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival, Yeongdong Nangye Traditional Music Festival, Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival, Wonju Hanji Festival, Ganghwa Dolmen Festival, Cheonan Heungtaryeong Festival, Saenggeo Jincheon Hwarang Festival, Hanbat Seonbi Festival, and Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival to experience traditional music, martial arts, and other cultural themes.

October seems to be the month for gourmands with a number of festivals that stimulate the palate. Visit the Busan Jagalchi Festival or Ganggyeong Salted Seafood Festival, both held by the sea, or the Gwangju Kimchi Festival, Icheon Rice Cultural Festival, and Namdo Food Culture Festival to sample traditional foods of Korea. Some traditional cultural festivals and nature-themed events are scheduled for October and November, including the Gangjin Celadon Cultural Festival, Hapcheon Tripitaka Koreana Festival, Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival, Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, Ulsan Oegosan Pottery Festival, and Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival.


Boryeong Mud Festival
Get messy in the mud! The festival ’s diverse pavilions await you with numerous hands-on programs including mud sliding, mud baths, and mud wrestling just to name a few. You definitely don’t want to miss the excitement and fun of this festival.
Dates: July 15 ~ July 21
Place: Daecheon Beach, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Muan White Lotus Festival
An expansive blanket of beautiful white lotus flowers, which blossom from July to September, grows on 81 acres of land in Muan. Every year, tourists flock here to see their exquisite beauty, which can be seen only at this time.
Dates: August (To Be Determined)
Place: Hoesan Baengnyeonji Pond, Illo-eup, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do

Jindo Sea Parting Festival
The sea mysteriously divides, and a path emerges from beneath the water. The province of Jeollanam-do hosts traditional performances and fireworks for the benefit of tourists who visit Jindo just to get a chance to walk on this path.
Dates: August 10 ~ August 12
Place: Modori Beach, Gogun-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do

Hansan Daecheop Festival
This festival is held to commemorate the victory against the Japanese about 400 years ago. A variety of programs are organized, including a reenactment of the historic sea battle, a triathlon race, a sound performance, and fireworks.
Dates: August (To Be Determined)
Place: Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Goesan Pepper Festival
Goesan is well known for its production of fresh, flavorful peppers. The festival offers a number of fun- filled events such as picking red peppers, pepper sack race, a red pepper food contest, and lots of food sampling.
Dates: August (To Be Determined)
Place: Goesan-eup, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do

Gimje Horizon Festival
This is an agricultural festival held where fall’s golden fields of grain meet the clear blue sky of autumn. You can experience farm life through rice-cake making, straw crafts, scarecrow making, and the one-day farm experience tourism program.
Dates: September 20 ~ September 24
Place: Byeokgoljae, Buryang-myeon, Gimje-si, Jeollabuk- do

Nangye Traditional Music Festival
This unique Korean music festival rivals those of Vienna and Salzburg. Held in Yeongdong, the home of Korean classical music, this festival will offer various styles of Korean classical music.
Dates: September 22 ~ September 25
Place: Yeongdongcheon Stream waterside, Yeongdong-eup, Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk- do

Cheonan Heungtaryeong Festival
This festival of cheerful music and dance is held every year to celebrate the joy of life. Various music and dances are performed in the parks and streets of Cheonan.
Dates: September 29 ~ October 3
Place: Cheonan Samgeori and Arario Park, Cheonan-si, Chuncheongnam-do

Andong International Mask Dance Festival
This international mask dance festival showcases both local and international mask dances, as well as folk performances and drama unique to Andong, a traditional village festival, a mask dance contest, along with numerous exhibits and hands-on events.
Dates: September 29 ~ October 8
Place: Unheung-dong, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Ganghwa Dolmen Festival
This festival is a convenient bus ride from Incheon International Airport. Take part in a hands-on experience of making earthenware, accessories, bone utensils, and stoneware used in prehistoric times, and learn more about the ancient cultures of Ganghwa.
Dates: September 30 ~ October 3
Place: Goindol (Dolmen) Square and Ganghwa-eup area, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon-si

Geumsan Ginseng Festival
Besides offering ginseng and other herbal medicines at more affordable prices than other regions, the festival also offers ginseng picking experience, and cooking ginseng/herb foods. This is a must-see festival for anyone interested in the beneficial effects of Korean ginseng.
Dates: September (To Be Determined)
Place: Ginseng Exhibition Complex and Ginseng/Herb streets, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival
When buckwheat flowers are in full bloom during fall, this cultural festival celebrates Korea’s leading novelist, Lee Hyo Seok in Bongpyeong, Gangwon-do, which was the background for one of his most noted novels. This cultural festival offers a number of different programs including folk-games, scenic nature tours, and buckwheat food sampling.
Dates: September (To Be Determined)
Place: Hyoseok Literature Center, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival
With a variety of programs surrounded in beautiful nature, this festival is calling out to visitors. Come and enjoy sea-related events including a sea parade, female divers, a sea fishing contest, and a swimming contest.
Dates: September (To Be Determined)
Place: Seobok Exhibition Hall, Seogwihang Port and Chilsimni Outdoor Stage, Seogwipo- si, Jeju-do

Wonju Hanji Festival
If you want to make clothing with hanji (traditional Korean paper), stage a fashion show, see furniture and other craftworks made of hanji, or make hanji yourself, then this is the place to be. Here, you can learn everything about the 1,600-year-old hanji tradition.
Dates: September (To Be Determined)
Place: Hanji Museum and Hanji Workshop, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do

Bonghwa Red Pine Mushroom Festival
At this festival, you can enjoy both a traditional folk experience and pine mushroom picking. It also includes rafting, a firewood-splitting contest, a mountain bike race, and pine mushroom food sampling.
Dates: September (To Be Determined)
Place: Sports Park and Mt. Songisan, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival
At this festival, led by professional foreign guides, you will enjoy the rare opportunity of going deep into the mountains to see wildflowers and to pick and taste wild pine mushrooms.
Dates: September (To Be Determined)
Place: Yangyang Market, Namdaecheon Stream, Gangwon- do

Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival
In the darkness of night, the banks of the Namgang River across from Jinjuseong Fortress look spectacular with glowing “wish lanterns,” which are hung up by local residents and are also floating downriver.
Dates: October 1 ~ October 12
Place: Namgang River and Jinju-si area, Manggyeong-dong, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam- do

Gangjin Celadon Cultural Festival
Based on the theme of Goryeo celadon, world renown for their unique colors and shapes, the Gangjin celadon festival sells, exhibits, and offers hands-on celadon programs. This is a great opportunity to see rare musical instruments made of celadon and some of the oldest celadons of the Goryeo period.
Dates: October 14 ~ October 22
Place: Goryeo celadon kilns, Daegu-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do

Chungju World Martial Arts Festival
With the theme of taegwondo and taekkyeon, both traditional martial arts of Korea, this festival showcases various martial art performances by 34 groups from all over the world. You can view traditional martial arts and taekkyeon competitions, and learn about them.
Dates: October 14 ~ October 22
Place: Chungju Gymnasium area, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

Busan Jagalchi Festival
At this festival, market merchants and tourists join one another to eat, and drink at Busan’s Jagalchi Market, both a famous tourist site and the nation’s largest seafood market. The whole market becomes a performance stage throughout the festival period.
Dates: October 18 ~ October 22
Place: Jagalchi Market, Nampo-dong, Busan-si

Icheon Rice Cultural Festival
This rice festival is held during the harvest season in Icheon, known for its particularly good flavor and color. Scenes of traditional farm life are reenacted to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Numerous events are held, including samullori, drama, and parades.
Dates: October 26 ~ October 29
Place: Seolbong Park, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Punggi Ginseng Festival
This festival offers the experience of picking ginseng, which is healthy for you in a ginseng field. Ginseng aficionados will be thrilled by the opportunity to buy high-quality ginseng at affordable prices through the ginseng auction and to sample a variety of ginseng foods.
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Namwoncheon Stream, Punggi-eup, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Saenggeo Jincheon Hwarang Festival
The Hwarang was a group of brave, aristocratic young men of Silla period who were devoted to intellectual pursuits and the practice of martial arts. This is an interesting local cultural festival featuring a martial arts demonstration, an essay contest, a photo exhibition, an archery competition, and the “Mr. Hwarang” competition.
Dates: September 23 ~ September 27
Place: Baekgokcheon, Jincheon-eup, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do

Hanbat Seonbi Festival
How about playing the role of a seonbi, or scholar of the old days? You can learn about the traditional customs and manners of Korea, and see an exhibition related to this tradition.
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Seodaejeon Park and Ppuri Park, Daejeon-si, Chuncheongnam-do

Ganggyeong Salted Seafood Festival
Ganggyeong has enjoyed a wide reputation for its salted seafood for over 200 years. At this annual festival, you can make your own salted seafood and learn more about making various dishes with salted seafood. Come and visit this exciting event by the sea and enjoy some fresh seafood!
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Ganggyeong Port, Ganggyeong-eup, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Namdo Food Culture Festival
This festival represents the most popular foods from the 22 cities and areas of Jeollanam-do province. Come and taste the culinary diversity of this region, and also enjoy the various performances held at Naganeupseong Folk Village in the evening.
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Naganeupseong Folk Village, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do

Gwangju Kimchi Festival
This food festival teaches visitors all about kimchi, the staple food of Korea. Come and taste foods made from various types of fermented delicacy. Kimchi making classes and a singing contest are also available for foreign tourists.
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Gwangju Municipal Folk Museum area, Buk-gu, Gwangju-si, Jeollanam-do

Hapcheon Tripitaka Koreana Festival
The festival is held to commemorate the Tripitaka Koreana (wooden printing blocks of Buddhist scriptures), a UNESCO world cultural heritage. This is a rare opportunity to take part in a temple stay and eat traditional temple food.
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Haeinsa Temple, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival
Held in Gochang Fortress, a film location of the drama Daejanggeum, this festival is a chance to enjoy the local cultural assets and natural landscape. Walk along the top of the fortress wall, for it is said that women who do so will be rewarded with long and healthy lives.
Dates: October (To Be Determined)
Place: Gochangeupseong Fortress area, Gochang-eup, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do

Ulsan Oegosan Pottery Festival
Korean onggi (pottery with a dark brown glaze) is an environment-friendly vessel that is exported abroad. Onggi is considered to be the best food storage container, so come and visit the village where onggi craftsmen live, and make your own vessel.
Dates: November (To Be Determined)
Place: Gosan-ri Onggi Village, Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan-si

Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival
The festival offers many programs that highlight the healthy effects of Korean soybeans. Come and take part in the soymilk-drinking contest, and enjoy folk songs and performances on the outdoor stage of the Imjingak tourist site.
Dates: November (To Be Determined)
Place: Imjingak tourist site, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do

For more information on these and other Korean attractions please visit www.tour2korea.com or call us at 201-585-0909