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| Gimje Horizon 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 Horizon 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.
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival
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.
Jindo Miracle Sea Festival
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.
Hwaseong Cultural Festival
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| Hwaseong Cultural Festival |
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.
Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival
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.
Boseong Green Tea Festival
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| Boseong Green Tea Festival |
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.
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
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