A Short Guide to South Korea’s Finest Festivals
By now, everyone has heard of K-Pop and K-dramas. High quality of the content, prolific production, and appealing music that is going viral on social media are just some of the ways in which Korean music and shows have won over the audience across the globe. And with growth in popularity came growth of interest in all-things Korea – from food to culture.
And the best way to get to know the culture of one country is by visiting local festivals. Here’s a list of the top 10 festivals in Korea you should not miss.
Top 10 Annual Festivals in South Korea
South Korea is a country steeped in rich traditions and vibrant culture, and its annual festivals reflect this heritage. Each festival offers a unique experience, celebrating everything from seasonal changes to historical events. Here are the top 10 annual festivals you shouldn’t miss if you find yourself in South Korea or a fan of anything prefixed by K.
1. Seollal – Lunar New Year
Seollal is part of the most important traditional holidays in South Korea, which falls on a date either at the end of January or early February. It is an occasion that marks the beginning of the first day of the moon calendar and is a time when families get to pay respect to ancestors through the ritual called “charye.”
People wear hanbok clothes, perform ancestor rites, and prepare foods on this holiday. Main dishes include rice cake soup called tteokguk, symbolizing gaining one year of age. Children also normally kowtow to older people and are given money with a blessing to start the new year. This holiday, celebrated for three days in total, is a really deep cultural familial affair.
2. Boseong Green Tea Festival
Events include the Green Tea Festival every May, which showcases green tea cultivation and its many traditions in picturesque, rolling tea fields of Boseong. The visitors can participate in various activities regarding tea: fresh tea leaves picking, making green tea, and observing a whole production process, enjoyment of many different kinds of tea foods and drinks, such as green tea ice cream and traditional tea ceremonies.
Dense natural beauty at the tea plantations provides the perfect serene backdrop for visitors to immerse themselves in Korean tea culture. This festival, relaxing as it may be, is educative.
3. Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Lantern) Festival
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival: This festival takes place in October every year in Jinju City and showcases a marvelous view of exquisite, euphoric lanterns that light up the Namgang River. It is held to commemorate the history and memories of lanterns lit as signaling and messaging during battles of Imjin War from 1592 to 1598. The place is a charm to visit, with several thousand beautifully prepared lanterns swimming on the river or placed on its banks. The festival also extends to lantern-making workshops, traditional performances, and reenactments that will send participants away with an experience of Jinju’s historical and cultural past. The festival is a mesmerizing combination of history, light, and art.
4. Gwangju Biennale
The Gwangju Biennale, held every two years in Gwangju and considered to be Asia’s oldest contemporary art biennale, features contemporary art from all over the world. It is usually held in the month of September and attracts artists and lovers of art from all parts of the globe. The biennale takes up current issues via various exhibitions, installations, performances, and even multi-media presentations. This becomes a venue for international and Korean artists to express provocative ideas that challenge the boundaries of art and culture.
The city of Gwangju has a very active record of activism and political history, so it forms a good backdrop for deliberations on social change resulting from the involvement of art in society.
5. Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Chuseok falls on the second phase of the full moon in late September or early October and is one of the most important holidays in South Korea. This three-day harvest festival is very much a time to reunite all family members and pay respect to ancestors by visiting ancestral graves and offering foods through performing a ritual called charye.
Foods are prepared and shared among family members, such as songpyeon, a half-moon-shaped rice cake filled with sweet ingredients. During Chuseok, folk games like ssireum, Korean wrestling are played and people join the traditional dances ganggangsullae, a circle dance under the full moon. During Chuseok, the autumn harvest is celebrated by thankfulness, bringing families together for the abundance.
6. Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
The Busan International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in Asia, takes place every October, and filmmakers, actors, and cinema enthusiasts from around the world surge in. From independent and experimental films to international blockbusters, a variety of films can be watched at this festival in the energetic coastal city of Busan. For the young beginning filmmakers, it is a big chance to present their works accordingly.
From screenings to panels and networking, BIFF provides one of the most active environments in which the general public and industry professionals can participate in the art of filmmaking.
7. Andong Mask Dance Festival
The Andong Mask Dance Festival is one of the unique cultural events celebrated in October, which brings together in one world Korea’s traditional mask dance dramas, called talchum. For that to be possible, it was held in the historic city of Andong. It showcases performances of these traditional dances that originally were performed as satires or for people’s entertainment during the Joseon Dynasty.
During the event, visitors can witness colorful and vibrant performances, participate in mask-making workshops, and view exhibitions explaining the history and significance of the masked dances. The festival offers a dizzying view of Korean folk culture with its bustling marketplace, traditional games, and food stalls.
8. Seoul Lantern Festival
Beginning every November, the Seoul Lantern Festival lights up Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul with a mesmerizing array of thousands of glowing lanterns. The event symbolizes lanterns that beautifully light up everything from Korean folklore and historical events to even modern cultural icons. Visitors can take in the intricate design and craftsmanship by walking along the stream.
Other attractions include cultural performances, food stalls, and numerous interactive exhibits. These are among the main reasons why this festival has been a must-see both for locals and tourists. The fusion of tradition and modernity at the heart of this city makes for an enchanting setting indeed.
9. Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
Every August, the biggest rock music festival in South Korea, the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, is held. Equally close to Seoul, this event also stages local and international acts of rock bands, offering everything from indie rock to heavy metal.
Thousands of fans attend the event to enjoy the live performances along with several activities such as art installations, food trucks, and workshops. What’s more, the event has an electrifying atmosphere, with fans camping out to enjoy a full weekend of music, making it one of Asia’s best events for rock aficionados.
10. Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival
It takes place every year in October within the historic city of Suwon and is a festival showcasing the cultural heritage of the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, which is listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. It showcases a royal procession reenactment, typical performances, martial arts demonstrations, and a marketplace showing off local crafts. It means that visitors will be able to take in views of the fortress and become familiar with its historical value and the rich cultural significance of the event. The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival offers a great blend of history, architecture, and Korean traditional culture into one event beautifully.
Conclusion
Each of these festivals is an event steeped in and representative of South Korea’s rich history. They are perfectly combined with diverse culture and artistic expression. Regardless of your preferences – if you enjoy traditional rituals, modern art, or energetic music – each of the festivals has something to offer and makes for an experience that no visitor should miss when visiting South Korea. If you want to continue exploring Korean culture outside of festivals listed here, we suggest checking out famous K-Pop bands such as ATEEZ and ENHYPEN.
