Five Festivals in South Korea

These five fun festivals in South Korea are perfect for the entire family.

While we love exploring the islands around Hong Kong, taking in the best hiking trails and luxing it up on a Hong Kong staycation, sometimes we need to go further afield, somewhere like South Korea. Beyond the K-Pop, the kimchi and the karaoke, there are so many wonderful things to do in the Land of the Morning Calm, and these five festivals in South Korea should be at the top of your list. With Seoul just a short four-hour flight from Hong Kong, you’ll easily be able to fit in some K-Time; we promise you’ll thank us later.

5 festivals in South Korea that you won’t want to miss:

Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival 

The Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival is so much more than just snowmen! Expect entire cities and sculptures crafted from snow (Photo: Josh Dunn via Flickr)

South Korea really does love a good winter festival, and there’s none quite like the wonderful Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival. Held every year in Taebaeksan National Park, Gangwon-do, thousands of people gather to see some of the most mind-blowing snow sculptures that celebrate the winter season.

If you’re picturing a variety of below-average snowmen, then think again, because these snow sculptors create entire scenes and cities that will have both old and young mesmerised. Along with all the beautiful creations, visitors will enjoy music and dance performances, live karaoke competitions, Igloo cafes and a family-friendly vibe resonating throughout the town.

Handy hints for Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival:

•  Wrap up super warm for this one folks, as Korea in winter time can be very harsh.

•  Consider a hip flask of something warm to keep you well heated.

•  Getting there: Take the train from Seoul station. The journey takes around four hours.

Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival, annually in January-February.

Jeju Fire Festival

The fire historically cleared the grass of vermin in time for a new harvest, and is quite a sight to behold (Photo: Garrett via Flickr)

Even if you’ve already been to the beautiful island of Jeju, eaten the oranges, ridden the horses, seen the pearl divers and taken the honeymoon pictures, you’re not going to want to miss the Jeju Fire Festival.

Held every year from late February to early March, and coinciding with Lunar New Year, Saebyeol Oreum, a hill in Jeju city is set alight to welcome both good health and good harvest for the upcoming year. Originally, the fire was a way of getting rid of vermin, but now it’s simply a wonderful spectacle to witness. There’s always a great fireworks display to mark the end of the festival, as well as many performances, games and cultural workshops throughout the city. So put this on your must-do list of festivals in Southwest Korea to visit soon.

Handy hints for Jeju Fire Festival: 

•  Jeju is a popular local and international travel destination, especially at Lunar New Year, so definitely plan ahead for this one.

•  Getting there: A number of airlines, including HK Express fly direct to Jeju from Hong Kong.

Jeju Fire Festival, annually around February/March.

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival:

If you’re looking for gorgeous natural beauty, then look no further than the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival (Photo: Hoju Saram via Flickr)

So, you think Japan is the only place with a blossom festival? Not true! The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most magical festivals in South Korea, and it’s definitely one that you should try and time your trip to enjoy.

Hundreds of thousands of stunning cherry blossoms can be found during the spring time, turning the areas around both Yeojwacheon and Gyeonghwa Station into vistas that look like something straight from a movie set. In fact, K-drama fans will probably recognise the ‘Romance Bridge’, which has found its way into many a Korean drama.

On top of the wonderfully photographic cherry blossoms, visitors can also see some sharply choreographed military performances and enjoy a selection of street foods, including swirly potato sticks and whole pigs that roast over open flames. Food, flowers and fancy footwork? Who could ask for anything more from a festival?

Handy hints for Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival:

•  Traffic from Seoul to Jinhae during the festival is insane, so definitely opt for the train.

•  It’s all about timing when it comes to this festival, as when the blossoms bloom is quite difficult to predict, so keep an eye on the weather and forums to see what people in Korea are saying.

•  Getting there: Korail makes special trips to Jinhae from Seoul Station during the festival, which takes approximately four hours.

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, annually around March/April.

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival is definitely one of the quirkiestu Korean festivals (and so much fun!) (Photo: Hypnotica Studios Infinite via Flickr)

When it comes to festivals in South Korea, you haven’t lived until you’ve visited the Boryeong Mud Festival. Held on Daecheon beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do (just a few hours drive from Seoul), this is the perfect event for everyone, whether you want to hit the Hite beers with your crew or if you’re with the whole family. The highlight of the festival, unsurprisingly, is mud, but Boryeong mud has special cleansing and anti-aging properties, meaning that getting covered head-to-toe in the stuff is actually good for you skin, as well as being hilariously amusing.

There’s a Family Zone that includes a range of toys and games for the kids (covered in the obligatory muddy-goodness of course!) while adult children can amusek themselves with delights like mud wrestling, mud slides, or a variety of skincare treatments that are set up around the boardwalk. Being on the beach means you can nip into the water to clean off before hitting the food zone that features delights from across the Korean peninsula, and don’t miss the live entertainment that pops up throughout the event.

While the Boryeong Mud Festival may not be the height of traditional Korean culture, it is a genuinely good time.

Handy hints for Boryeong Mud Festival:

•  Wear clothes that you don’t mind destroying; you’re going to get dirty, no matter what your intentions.

•  Book your accommodation well in advance for this one, as this is one of the most popular festivals in South Korea, and locals and expats flock to it every year.

•  Getting there: Buses depart from Central City Bus Station in Seoul to Boryeong at regular intervals and the journey takes around two hours.

Boryeong Mud Festival, annually in July.

Busan International Film Festival

Film buffs throughout Asia can’t get enough of the Busan International Film Festival, and for very good reason. South Korea has a thriving film industry (did you know it’s the only country in the world where Titanic didn’t make it to number one at the box office because a local film bet it out?) and every year in October sees guests gather in the southern city of Busan to watch hundreds of films from both South Korea and further afield.

Set across five theatres, lovers of classic cinema will want to check out the Korean cinema retrospective programming, while others may prefer the range of international and local premieres. One of the highlights of this festival in South Korea is the outdoor Busan Cinema Center that hosts the opening and closing screenings, as well as selected programming throughout. The stunning complex is quite spectacular, so don’t miss out on treating yourself to the experience. What’s more, the general buzz of the city during the festival is so overwhelming that you can’t help but fall more in love with the coastal city that seems to just burst with culture and creativity.

Handy hints for Busan International Film Festival:

•  Book both your tickets and accommodation for this well in advance, as many K-fans from China, Japan and Taiwan travel to this event along with large groups of locals and expats.

•  Getting there: A number of airlines fly direct from Hong Kong to Busan, and it only takes around three hours.

By Sophie Cullen

Source: www.thehoneycombers.com