There are many important South Korea holidays, cultural events and annual festivals. Some take place in the major cities, but still others are hosted in the countryside. Most occur in the springtime, when the cherry blossoms, apricot flowers, and other fruit trees are in bloom, and whose beauty attracts both locals, as well as international visitors.
Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival
Held in January every year, this winter festival includes sleigh rides, ice sculptures, and ice skating. But the main attraction is trout fishing, as the event is located right on the banks of the Gapyeongcheon Stream. A real family gala, enjoy a day out with the whole clan.
Gwangyang International Maehwa Festival
Held during the peak of the cherry blossom season in March, the Mawhwa Festival is hosted near Mount Baeunsan when the whole area gets bathed in beautiful pink blooms. The event attracts visitors from all over Korea who enjoy walking or hiking among the flowering trees.
Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival
The cherry blossom celebration on the island of Jeju in South Korea takes place in April. The event is especially striking because the whole street is flanked by trees, which are amazing to see in full bloom. The festival also includes all kinds of cultural events.
Jindo Miracle Sea Parting Festival
This amazing festival takes place in early April each year in the Modo Island area of Jindo. An extremely low tide creates a miracle likened to Moses parting of the Red Sea, in which a two-mile stretch of the ocean floor is completely exposed. Thousands of visitors flock to Jindo to see this marvel and walk along the ocean floor.
Haeundae Sand Festival
Head to Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea for the sand festival in early June. Walk amongst stunning sculptures crafted from the beautiful white sand. There are also all kinds of events including hot sand baths, beach volleyball, marathons, and more. At night, there are fireworks and concerts.
Taebaek Sunflower Festival
Running from the end of July until mid-August, the endless fields of sunflowers are simply breathtakingly. Held in the village of Guwau in Gangwon-do Province, during the festival, there are art exhibitions, concerts, dances, films, and more.
Boryeong Mud Festival
On July 2, throngs of people head to Boryeong, specifically to Daecheon Beach, for the fun-packed Boryeong Mud Festival. One of the longest beaches on Korea’s west coast, enjoy mud slides, mud fights, mud baths, and more as you come to get dirty. This is an extremely popular event, so visitors need to book hotels well in advance to ensure availability.
Jeonju Bibimbap Festival
Korean food lovers should not miss the Bibimbap Festival in Jeonju Hanok Village in October. A staple of Korean food, Bibimbap is rice covered with various condiments and mixed with chili paste. At the event, visitors can enjoy a range of different types of bibimbap, as well as various cultural performances.