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Selected as one of the two 2013 Premier Festivals of Korea, the Gimje Horizon Festival offers visitors a chance to experience Korea’s agriculture and various traditional cultural performances. The festival highlights the beautiful natural environment of Gimje and the rice produced in the region. The expansive fields of Gimje are fertile and offer suitable conditions for growing rice. Gimje is also the largest granary in Korea. During the festival period, visitors can try their hand at catching grasshoppers, harvesting rice, and making scarecrows. The golden hues of the horizon make for a wonderful view.

Dates: October 2, 2013 - October 6, 2013
Venue: Byeokgolje area, Buryang-myeon, Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do

At the spectacular Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Lantern) Festival, colorful lanterns parade along the Namgang waterfront across from Jinjuseong Fortress and Chokseongnu Pavilion. Visitors will be able to enjoy a parade of traditional lanterns from around the world, floating lanterns downriver, and hanging lanterns to make wishes.

Dates: October 1, 2013 - October 13, 2013
Venue: Namgang River and Jinjuseong Fortress area, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do Province

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Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is a unique wintertime celebration that draws over 1,000,000 visitors every year. To promote it as the nation’s largest and most popular winter festival, the organizers plan a variety of programs and fun activities. The most popular programs are ice fishing on the clean, frozen Bukhangang River, ice football, and ice sledding.

Date: January 5, 2013 - January 27, 2013
Venue: Five villages including Hwacheon-eup of Gangwon-do Province
<Top Festivals>

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On the first full moon of the lunar calendar year, one of the many hills on Jeju-do Island is set ablaze to wish for a plentiful harvest. The festival originated from Jeju’s traditional farming custom of burning rice fields and vegetable gardens in early spring to exterminate pests and ease cultivation. 。

Date: March 8, 2013 – March 10, 2013
Venue: Saebyeol Oreum area, Bongseong-ri , Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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Goreyo Daegaya Experience Festival introduces and promotes Daegaya, an ancient kingdom known for its quality steel production around 1,500 years ago. The festival presents a range of hands-on experience programs based on the deep-seated history of the region such as the rural communities experience program. The exhibition of relics from Daegaya times show the life and wisdom of the Daegaya people.

Date: April 11, 2013 - April 14, 2013
Venue: Daegaya Museum area, Goryeong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

The Gijisi juldarigi, or tug-of-war, is a valuable cultural heritage that is 500 years old. The tug-of-war is a symbolic activity of union among local community members to prevent disasters and wish for a bountiful harvest. Together with the pre-ceremony events, the festival is held over four days. Visitors can attend a tug-of-war event as well as various folk performances. The hands-on venue offers programs for families, including wooden craft making and the art of traditional knots.

Dates: April 11, 2013- April 14, 2013
Venue: Gijisi-ri area, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do Province

Jindo’s sea-parting is a natural phenomenon that is reminiscent of Moses’ fantastical parting of the Red Sea. Korea’s world-famous parting of the sea reveals a 2.8-kilometer-long and 40-meter-wide path between the mainland and a nearby island. The Jindo Miracle Sea Festival is held when the tide differences are at their peak, hence rendering a natural stage for the festival’s great selection of events. The festival is gaining recognition overseas as many visitors flock to the quiet town of Jindo-gun every year during the festival period.

Date: April 25, 2013 - April 28, 2013
Venue: Modo-ri, Uisin-myeon and Hoedong-ri, Gogun-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

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Ulsan, the center of Korea’s whale culture, is home to whale-related attractions such as the Bangudae Petroglyphs (rock drawings and carvings), a whale museum, and the Whales & Ocean Experience Center. The only one of its kind in Korea, Ulsan Whale Festival features whale watching cruises and grand scale, whale themed performances on the Taehwagang River throughout the festival.

Date: April 25, 2013 - April 28, 2013
Venue: Taehwagang River and Jangsaengpo area, Nam-gu, Ulsan-si
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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The Gwangalli Eobang Festival features a variety of programs displaying the traditional folk customs of the Suyeong area such as the Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori* set against the beautiful Gwangan Bridge of Gwangalli Beach. The festival is a major spring event for the city of Busan and is organized around Gwangalli Beach, Gwangan Bridge, and the Gwangalli Beach theme-street areas. It features various programs set on the sea and sandy beach, including bare handed fish catching, a cooking contest, and free ocean sports activities. 

Dates: April 26, 2013 – April 28, 2013
Venue: Gwangalli Beach area, Busan  
<Up-and-coming Festival>

* Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori: Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori is a folk game originating in the Suyeong area of Busan. It combines fish catching activities with the singing of traditional labor songs. 

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Mungyeong has long had a flourishing ceramics industry owing to an abundant supply of sandy soil and firewood. The Mungyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival offers visitors an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for the unassuming beauty of chatsabal (Korean traditional tea bowls). Tea and pottery-related hands-on programs are facilitated by local potters of the Mungyeong region.

Date: April 27, 2013 - May 5, 2013
Venue: Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park area (KBS filming location, Ceramics Museum Plaza), Gyeongsangbuk-do
<Top Festival>

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Damyang, Jeollanam-do Province, is known throughout Korea for its bamboo. The Damyang Bamboo Festival hosts a variety of hands-on activities such as bamboo drawing, traditional fishing with a bamboo basket, bamboo craft making, and many more. Visitors can also sample alcoholic beverages brewed in bamboo stalks and try bamboo shoot dishes.

Date: May 3, 2013 - May 8, 2013
Venue: Juknokwon and Gwanbangjerim Forest area, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

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Daegu Yangyeongsi is known for its rich history and traditions of oriental medicine culture. Designated an official Culture & Tourism Festival in 2001, the festival has since become a signature celebration that promotes the Korean traditional medicine worldwide. Throughout the festival, visitors can learn the history of Korean traditional medicine and experience traditional medical treatments.

Date: May 8, 2013 - May 12, 2013
Venue: Yakjeon medicine alley area, Jung-gu, Daegu-si
< Outstanding Festival>

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Boseong Green Tea Festival, the largest green tea festival in Korea, takes place in the Boseong green tea fields, a well-known filming location and tourist site. Visitors to the festival will get a chance to pick tea leaves, make and sample green tea, make green tea snacks, learn traditional tea drinking etiquette, and take part in a tea photo contest. 
 
Date:May 14, 2013 – May 19, 2013
Venue: Chasori Park and Boseong green tea field, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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The Chuncheon International Mime Festival is the leading performing arts festival in Korea, and its fame has now spread across the globe. Each year, renowned artists from home and abroad give outstanding live performances. On the weekends of the festival period, performances are held practically nonstop!

Date: May 19, 2013 – May 26, 2013
Venue: Festival Theater Momzit, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

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Muju Firefly Festival is an environment-themed event that celebrates fireflies, which are indigenous to Muju. Visitors to the festival will have a chance to participate in the nighttime exploration program to visit and observe the natural habitat for fireflies. A range of folk culture experience activities also take place during the festival period.

Date: June 1, 2013 – June 9, 2013
Venue: Hanpungnu Pavilion, Namdaecheon Stream, Bandiland area, Muju-eup, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do Province
<Top festival>

Hansan Mosi Cultural Festival is held in Chungcheongnam-do Seoceong-gun, a region famous for producing ramie, a flax-like plant whose fibers are used to weave cloth. Visitors can attend a fashion show featuring ramie fiber clothes, try on ramie clothing, or watch the creation of ramie fabric.

Date: June 6, 2013 – June 9, 2013
Venue: Hansan Mosi Fabric Hall area, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

The environment-friendly Haeundae Sand Festival showcases fantastic sand sculptures on Haeundae Beach. With the concept of “seeing, feeling, and enjoying,” the festival allows visitors to engage in activities using sand, in addition to enjoying the sea, beach sports, performances, and fireworks.

Date: June 7, 2013 – June 10, 2013
Venue: Haeundae Beach, Haeundae-gu, Busan-si
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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The Gangjin area in Jeollanam-do Province has long been known for its blue celadon production, made possible by advanced sea transportation as well as the right ingredients and conditions for celadon production such as local clay, fuel, water, and a favorable climate. The Gangjin Celadon Festival has gained acclaim among visitors for showcasing the excellence and uniqueness of Goryeo celadon.

Dates: July 7, 2013 - August 4, 2013
Venue: Goryeo Celadon Doyoji area, Daegu-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
< Top Festival>

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Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is held around Gungnamji Pond, an artificial pond constructed in the reign of King Muwang of the Baekje kingdom (BC18~AD660). A performance based on the love between Prince Seodong (King Muwang’s name in his youth) and Princess Seonhwa is the highlight of the festival. Events during the festival include face painting, lotus leaf tea sampling, lotus flower soap making, lotus flower photo and painting exhibitions, and a variety of performances. 

Date: July 18, 2013 – July 21, 2013
Venue: Seodong Park (Gungnamji) area, Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Participants from many different countries visit Pohang to compete in the fireworks contest during the Pohang International Fireworks Festival. The fireworks create a brilliant spectacle against the backdrop of the summer night sea. The festival also features a fireworks parade, a fireworks fashion show, light musical shows, live concerts on the beach, and a fireworks art exhibition.

Date: July 26, 2013 – August 4, 2013
Venue: Hyeongsangang River Sports Park, Bukbu Beach, Pohang Canal area, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Jangheung County in Jeollanam-do Province is known for its water as it borders the sea of Boseongman Bay and its main city center rests on a lake created by the Tamjingang River and Jangheung Dam. Held at the end of July every year, the Jeongnamjin Water Festival is a departure from other festivals, which mainly feature exhibitions and performances, as it highlights summer and water through a variety of games and hands-on programs. A huge artificial pool is installed on the Tamjingang River for various water activities. Visitors can also enjoy rafting, water bicycles, riding a boat that moves along a cord across the river, and a variety of foods of the Namdo region as well as special products of Jangheung at the Local Food Market.

Dates: July 26, 2013 – August 1, 2013  
Venue: Cypress woodland area, Tanjingang River, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Bonghwa Eun-eo (Sweet Fish) Festival takes place in Bonghwa, a well-preserved natural habitat surrounded with mountains, trees, clean water, and fresh air. Eun-eo, sweet fish, only live in the upper areas of the cleanest streams. Visitors can cool down while catching the fish in Naeseongcheon Stream with their bare hands. In addition, visitors can engage in night fishing and an Eun-eo barbeque.

Date: July 27, 2013 – August 3, 2013
Venue: Bonghwa-eup Sports Park, Naeseongcheon Stream area, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival presents several different programs during the festival period including a Hallyu Concert, Fringe Festival, Music in Arts Festival, and the Rock Festival. In particular, the Pentaport Rock Festival, a three-day festival featuring international and local rock bands, has developed into an international event supported ardently by rock fans worldwide.

Date: August 2, 2013 – August 4, 2013
Venue: Songdo Geullin Park (근린공원), No. 23, Incheon
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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The Mokpo Maritime Cultural Festival is held in Mokpo, which is home to Yudalsan Mountain as well as Samhakdo Island that overlooks Dadohaehaesang National Park on the West Coast. This year’s festival features an on-the-sea fireworks show, a DJ party, a tour of Mokpo’s sea at night and a variety of hands-on events for unforgettable memories.

Dates: August 2, 2013 – August 6, 2013   
Venue: Samhakdo area, Mokpo City, Jeollanam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

The Great Battle of Hansan Festival takes placein Tongyeong to commemorate the patriotic spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-shin, a Korean navy commander noted for leading victories against the invading Japanese Army during the Imjin Waeran War (1592-1598). The festival presents a variety of hands-on programs such as marine sports, geobukseon (turtle ship) making, bow making, and many more.

Date: August 14, 2013 – August 18, 2013
Venue: Yi Sun-shin Park, Byeongseon Madang, Tongjeyeong area, Tongyeong City, Gyeongsangnam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Goesan in Chungcheongbuk-do Province is famous for red pepper cultivation. The Goesan Red Pepper Festival features various red pepper related events such as an exhibition of red peppers from around the world, red pepper cutting and eating contests, traditional dish sampling, and a cooking competition. A range of celebratory performances and folk games are also scheduled for the festival. 

Date: September 5 – September 8, 2013
Venue: Sports Fields, Culture and Sports Center, and Dongjincheon Stream areas, Goesan-eup, Goesan-gun, Chungcheonbuk-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

The Hyoseok Cultural Festival takes place in Pyeongchang, the setting for Lee Hyo-seok’s famous novel, “When Buckwheat Flowers Come into Full Bloom.” The festival highlights different locations depicted in the novel as well as the area’s folklore. The festival is held at the most splendid time of the year when the buckwheat flowers blanket the entire Bongpyeong area. Don’t miss the wide range of foods made from buckwheat, exciting programs, and the vast plain of buckwheat flowers.

Date: September 6, 2013 – September 22, 2013
Venue: Bongpyeong-myeon Munhwa (Culture) Village area, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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With the theme of “where the world’s martial arts and culture meet,” the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival began in 1998 to globalize Taekkyon, a traditional martial art of Korea. Visitors can watch performances of Korean traditional martial arts as well as martial arts of other countries. Traditional martial arts groups demonstrate Taekkyon, Taekwondo, and Hapkido, and offer programs for visitors to learn martial arts. There are hands-on programs for tourists and visitors can watch demonstrations by martial arts groups from Japan, China, New Zealand and France. 

Dates: September 6, 2013 – September 10, 2013
Venue: World Martial Arts Park area, Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province  
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, which is held every October, is a landmark celebration for the city of Suwon. The festival presents a range of programs and performances, including reenactments of the royal life at Hwaseong Fortress as well as the everyday life of ordinary people under the reign of King Jeongjo the Great (reigned 1776-1800). Visitors may also enjoy many other exciting festivities such as family events and a program titled “Welcoming King Jeongjo the Great.”

Date: September 27, 2013 – October 1, 2013
Venue: Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

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The Cheonan World Dance Festival is a representative event of the city of Cheonan. It is one of the most famous large-scale dance contests in Korea with both dance and vocal performances. The festival features modern and folk dance contests, dance classes, a dance party, world traditional dance performances, and many more exciting programs.

Date: October 1, 2013 – October 6, 2013
Venue: Cheonan Samgeori Park, Cheonan Museum and Arario Plaza, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
<Top Festival>

Songyi (wild pine mushroom), a rare edible mushroom with a unique aroma and taste, grows on swampy grounds covered with pine tree needles. Entry into the Yangyang-gun area where the wild pine mushrooms grow is usually strictly prohibited. However, during the Yangyang Songyi Festival, visitors can observe the wild pine mushroom ecology and even harvest the mushrooms while enjoying a walk through the woods of Seoraksan Mountain.

Date: October 2, 2013 – October 6, 2013
Venue: Namdaecheon Stream and Songyi Mushroom fields, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do Province
<Top Festival>

The Jeongseon Arirang Festival is organized to preserve and pass down the traditional Jeongseon Arirang song. Visitors can have a unique experience and a lot of fun attending a recreation of an Arari raft, learning the Jeongseon Arirang song and its rhythm, and making and sampling potato pancakes and buckwheat pancakes. At the Jeongseon traditional marketplace, visitors can get a sense of rural Korean life and feel the energy of the market. The market is held during the festival period and offers local agricultural products and food at reasonable prices. 

Dates: October 2, 2013 – October 5, 2013  
Venue: Public sports ground and Joyanggang Riverside area, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Punggi Insam is a type of ginseng grown at the foot of Sobaeksan Mountain. Its special flavor is attributed to the particularly clean air and the energy of the mountain. The Punggi Ginseng Festival seeks to promote Punggi ginseng, especially its special medicinal properties, while showcasing key tourist attractions in the region. The main events of the festival include ginseng delicacy tasting and ginseng cultivating.

Date:October 3, 2013 – October 9, 2013
Venue: Namwoncheon Stream area, Pungi-eup, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

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The Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival is a perfect destination for urbanites looking for a healthier way of life. Visitors can learn about herbs that can be raised at home for cooking and medicinal purposes.

Date: October 4, 2013 - October 11, 2013
Venue: Festival Plaza at the Sancheong IC entrance and Donguibogam Village area, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do Province
<Outstanding Festival>

During the 1970s and 80s, young people in the city of Gwangju reveled in their youth and created their own culture on Chungjang-ro Street. The 7080 Chungjang Recollection Festival is a cultural celebration that epitomizes the spirit of the youth and the good old days of the 70s and 80s when everything prospered. A wide range of events take place during the festival period including a street parade by the locals, exhibition reenacting the life of the 1970s and 80s, traditional games, local dish sampling, a folk song festival, intangible cultural asset performances, and street performances.

Date: October 9, 2013 – October 13, 2013
Venue: Chungjang-ro, Geumnam-ro, Hwanggeum-ro, Underpass, Art St. and nearby regions, Dong-gu, Gwangju-si
<Outstanding Festival>

The city of Ganggyeong produces half of all fermented seafood produced in the country. It is here that the Fermented Seafood Festival is held to offer visitors fresh and tasty fermented seafood at prices 30~40% cheaper than most other parts of the country. In fact, prices remain relatively low enough to attract visitors all year around.

Date: October, 2013 (expected)
Venue: Ganggyeongpogu Port, Fermented Seafood Market and Fermented Seafood Exhibition Hall area, Ganggyeong-eup, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do Province
<Top Festival>

Masan was the first district in Korea to cultivate chrysanthemums locally and also the first to export them to Japan. Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival, held annually since 2000, presents spectacles such as a grand flower gate at the festival entrance, a flower hill made of 5,000 chrysanthemums, and a flower tower decorated with the festival’s mascots.

Date: October 25, 2013 – November 3, 2013
Venue: Masanhang Port, Wharf 1 area, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

Since the ancient times, Icheon’s expansive open fields have offered perfect conditions for growing rice. As such, it has long been one of the major rice producers in Korea, and continues to produce top-quality rice. The Icheon Rice Cultural Festival, combining two of Icheon’s symbols, rice and agriculture, is held in late October to celebrate the year of good harvest.

Date: October 30, 2013 – November 3, 2013
Venue: Seolbong Park, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do Province
<Top Festival>

Sunchang, a village famous for its citizens’ longevity and for the production of red-pepper paste, holds the Sunchang Fermented Soybean Festival every year. The fermented Sunchang red-pepper paste has recently been recognized for its excellent health benefits. Traditional outdoor performances, percussion performances, and Sunchang red-pepper paste making will take place, as well as a local specialty fair and a Sunchang red-pepper cooking competition.

Date: November, 2013 (expected)
Venue: Sunchang Gochujang Village and Gangcheonsan Mountain, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do Province
<Up-and-coming Festival>

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