10 Unique South Korean Festivals

South Korea gets a nod for addictive K-drama, K-pop and mouth-watering cuisine, but there’s something else South Korea excels at: festivals! From cultural affairs to entertainment and celebrations, there’s bound to be one made for you. Festivals in Korea aren’t only fun and entertaining, they also allow you to immerse in the local culture. WHich Korean festival is for you? With festivals happening all year round, there’s bound to be one that floats your boat.

 

Hwacheon is home to mountains, lakes and the Sancheoneo clean water fish. Each year, visitors brave sub-zero temperatures at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival to try their hand at ice fishing, lure-fishing and bare-hand fishing. Punters drop fishing lines into drilled holes in the ice, then wait for their catch. Now comes the weird bit: when they hook a fish, the celebratory tradition is to bite into its head. Yep, you read that right. This is one of Korea’s standout winter festivals.

For AUD 19.00, you can Klook your way to the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Tour from Seoul. It’s two-pairs-of-socks type of cold, so rug-up. 

Location: Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do

Entrance Fee: AUD 6.00 to AUD 10.00

Date: 4-26 January 2020

At Daecheon Beach annually, nearly half a million visitors flock to the Boryeong Mud Festival to dance, wrestle and generally get dirty! This unique festival has such a fan following; it’s risen to international fame. Kicking off in the 90s to promote the health benefits of the area’s mineral-rich mud, today’s festival is far from its early roots.

Now the mud-madness includes activities like mud wrestling, a ‘mud king’ contest, fireworks, and mega mud-greased slides! There’s also K-pop concerts after dark. 

Location: Daecheon Beach, 123, Meodeu-ro, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Entrance Fee: AUD 9.00 to AUD 12.00

Date: 17-26 July 2020

Photo Credit: Jeju Tourism Organisation From late February to early March every year, a hill in Jeju city (Saebyeol Oreum) is set alight to bring good health and harvest for the new year. This 2-day Jeju Fire Festival is a nod to the age-old tradition of burning grass to rid it of vermin before the new planting season. It’s a pretty a-blazing site to see, but this festival has more to it.

Featuring other activities such as folk games, torch marching and special performances, things also end with a bang: a big fireworks display. Play with fire amidst the scenic backdrop of Jeju Island. 

Location: San 59-8, Bongseong-ri, Ayeol-eup Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Entrance Fee: Free admission

Date: March 12-15 2020

This divine display attracts a million visitors every year. Each October, the night sky above Gwangalli Beach is illuminated with wow-worthy fireworks and pyrotechnics set to a soundtrack. At the Busan Fireworks Festival, before the spectacle of burst and scatter colours, enjoy a cultural roadshow featuring mimes, magic and bubbles.

Location: Gwangalli Beach, 219, Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Gwangan 2(i)-dong, Busan

Entrance Fee: S Seat, AUD 90.00 | R Seat, AUD 127.00

Date: 7-16 October 2020

See vivid, lit lanterns of all shapes, colours and sizes, floating down the Nam River at the Jinju Lantern Festival. It’s an unforgettable sight. Add your wish to the many thousand red lanterns on the river bank. This lively Seoul Lantern Festival began in 1592 and was borne from the custom of lighting lanterns to prevent Japanese troops from wading the Namgang River during the Japanese invasion.

During the festival, lanterns are lit in remembrance of the Jinjuseong Fortress Battle veterans. Stroll the streets in the evening, watch street parades and performances, make your own lantern and taste the fare from street food vendors.  

Location: 626, Namgang-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Entrance Fee: Adults (age 19 & above) AUD 13.00 | Students (age 7 to 18) AUD 6.00

Date: Between late September to early October

When spring comes, Korea is blanketed in pastel blooms. The festival of the season is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. Recreate a K-drama moment at the Romance Bridge at Yeojwacheon and bask in the blossoms at Gyeonghwa Station and watch the pink petal-snowfall as the train passes by. Take in cultural and military performances and tuck into some delicious street food. 

Location: Tongsin-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Entrance Fee: Free admission

Date: End of March to April every year

Korea and Kimchi are inseparable. While here, you must eat Kimchi, so unsurprisingly, there's a festival dedicated to all things fermented cabbage. The Gwangju World Culture Kimchi Festival features programmes Kimchi-making, an art gallery, a cooking experience, and other performances. See the Kimchi Master Competition and an extensive kimchi market where you can try and buy endless types of Kimchi. This is THE place to get the best Kimchi in the world.

Location: Gwangju Kimchitown, 60, Kimchi-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Entrance Fee: Free admission

Date: Various dates

Photo Credit: Ultra Korea

Ultra Korea is the country’s killer EDM festival. Top artists descend every year to throw a party to end all parties over a couple of heart-pumping days. Asia’s first music festival, it still dominates the scene with an exciting annual line-up. Past festivals have featured EDM artists like Dash Berlin, Tiesto, Avicii, David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, MIA, Skrillex and more.

Location: Jamsil Sports Complex, 25, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Entrance Fee: AUD 260.00 to AUD 346.00

Date: June 20-21st 2020

To bring in the first day of the year, punters hike up Jeju’s famous lookout point, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, to witness the first sunrise of the New Year. This UNESCO World Nature Heritage Site is an awe-inspiring view which is a top spot for the Seongsan Sunrise Festival. The day before New Year – take a nature tour, then watch a torch relay and local performances, before counting down to the New Year’s Eve fireworks. This celebration is all about hope and prosperity for the year ahead.

Location: Seongsan Ilchulbong, 284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Entrance Fee: Free admission

Date: 30 December, 31 December and 1 January every year

The Busan One Asia Festival is a K-pop mecca. With alumni artists like A Pink, ASTRO, B.A.P, GOT7, SF9, NU’EST W, Momoland, Black Pink, iKON, G-Friend, Wanna One and Sechskies, this star-studded scene runs for 10 days. 

Location: Busan Asiad Stadium, 344, World cup-daero, Yeonje-gu, Busan

Entrance Fee: Separate charges apply for different programs

Date: 2020 dates TBA

Music lovers are set to soak up the tunes at the Seoul Jazz Festival. If you’re a jazz-loving cat, the 14th festival sees a stellar line-up at Olympic Park in the city. Wrap your ears around Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Marcus Miller, Sergio Mendes and Still Dreaming. 

Location: 424 Olympic-ro, Oryun-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Entrance Fee: AUD 210.00 for one day or AUD 324.00 for both days

Date: 23-24 May 2020

 

 

Take the Gangwon Ice Fishing and Snow Flake Tour from Seoul with a Snow Bus to experience unique fun like the Pyeongchang ice fishing (in winter obs!). The thrill of making your catch of the day in icy cold water is a memorable activity. Snap the inventive snow sculptures in Daegwanreung, see the illuminated colours of the ice walls and there’s fun stuff for the kids too!

Location: Gangwon

Date: Anytime during winter

 

Experience Korea's biggest spring festival which attracts more than 2 million visitors every year. On the Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival Day Tour from Seoul you can upgrade to a VIP bus decked out with modern amenities like a touchscreen pad to watch while you stretch out on the luxe seats. Big windows let you feast your eyes on attractions and landmarks on your way to the festival.

Location: Jinhae

Entrance Fee: AUD 57.85

Date: 27 March - 6 April 2020

Join in the excitement, and you’ll understand the love Koreans have for their festivals. Besides that, whether you’re in Seoul, Jeju or Busan, there’s plenty to see and do! Look out for the Busan International Film Festival (otherwise known as BIFF Busan) in early October, as well as the Chuseok Festival. To make your trip even smoother, book yourself an airport transfer and WiFi device from Klook.