Korea's 2013 Cultural Tourism Festivals Revealed

Kimchi Culture Festival

If you are travelling to Korea this year plan your visit with one of the major cultural festivals happening around the country and you will find your travels more enjoyable and rewarding.

The best season to travel to Korea for cultural festivals is either in Spring or Autumn as it is also best weather at these times.  Many festivals take place in April/May and September/October each year so it's a great time to visit the country.

A total of forty-two festivals have been designated as the '2013 Culture Tourism Festivals of Korea' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.  Receiving the highest recommendation are two premier festivals - the Gimje Horizon Festival and the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival.

Gimje is known as the region where the sky meets the ground, hence the festival of the horizon.  Every year in October, Gimje Horizon Festival hosts a wide range of programs including Samulnori (traditional percussion quarter) contest, rural landscape drawing contests, celebratory performances, street parades and Ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling) as well as traditional wedding performances.

Also in October the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival presents a beautiful array of floating lanterns carrying citizens personal wishes along the Namgang River providing great photographic opportunities.  The festival features the lighting of the lanterns and an exhibition of the world's traditional lanterns and many related cultural programs also take place.

A couple of the outstanding festivals named are the Jindo Miracle Sea Festival which happens once a year and is famous for the 'Moses Miracle' where the sea mysteriously parts and you can walk from the mainland to an island.  It will take place from 25-28 April, 2013 and there are many associated cultural related events.

If you would like to see the Royal Parade of King Jeongjo the Great (22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty) join the Hwaseong Cultural Festival just south of Seoul at Suwon in October.  Hwaseong Fortress is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and the place annually where the re-enactment takes place. The Hwaseong Food Culture Festival is held at the same time and there is no better place to enjoy Korean ribs than in Suwon's famous Galbi (ribs) restaurants.One of the very popular long term festivals in Korea is the Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival where you can get your hands busy making the iconic Korean side dish of fermented cabbage.  The festival celebrates the importance of Korea's national dish and visitors may sample a wide range of kimchi varieties, join in making their own kimchi and many other fun and enjoyable activities.  The festival is held in October each year.

From 14-19 May this year the Boseong  Green Tea Festival will take place.  Boseong is considered the birthplace of the commercial tea industry in Korea and is the largest producer of tea in the country.  The festival has many fun experience programs where visitors can join in picking tea leaves, experience traditional Korean tea ceremonies and some performances as well.

This is just some of the wonderful experiences you can enjoy at one of the many cultural festivals happening around the country this year.

Boseong  Green Tea Festival

If you want to learn more about timing your visit to Korea with one of these fun-filled events visit the official travel website for Korea www.visitkorea.or.kr and search 'Festivals 2013' for more information.

 To receive a free colour travel guide to Korea email the Sydney office of Korea Tourism Organization Email:  visitkorea@knto.org.au or PH:  02)9252-4147/8