Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in Korea. The mountains and fields take on golden hues, and the cooling breeze makes spending time outdoors pleasant. It’s no wonder that cities throughout the nation hold many festivals in fall. If you’re planning a trip to Korea this fall, be sure to add one of the following five festivals to your itinerary!

Andong International Mask Dance Festival

The Andong International Mask Dance Festival has been held annually in Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do since 1997. The festival showcases the cultural heritage of Andong and Korea’s traditional mask dance, a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage, through various performances and programs. Festival-goers can learn more about the history and meaning behind the masks, as well as watch exciting mask dances from countries all around the globe.
Aside from traditional dances, the festival is complete with busking, a flea market, play area, musicals, street parade and more fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Geumsan World Insam Festival

The health benefits of insam, or ginseng, grown in Korea have been well-known throughout Asia since ancient times, being exported as far as the Roman Empire! Korea’s largest insam production region is in Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and the city hosts the Geumsan World Insam Festival every fall since 1981. During the festival, visitors can try their hand at harvesting insam before relaxing with a hongsam (dried insam) footbath or a facial. Other activities include insam sales and family contents using AI technology.

Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival

Suwon’s Hwaseong Fortress, built during the Joseon dynasty, was recognized by UNESCO for its outstanding architectural value and historical significance. The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival takes place every year here, where you can vividly experience the history and culture of the Joseon dynasty. The main event, King Jeongjo’s Royal Tomb Parade Reenactment, is a spectacular procession that recreates the visit of King Jeongjo to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress on his way to his father’s tomb. At night, a vibrant media art show is held against the backdrop of the Temporary Palace of Hwaseong Fortress. A range of experience programs are available for the whole family to enjoy, from cooking royal cuisine to trying on hanbok, or traditional Korean archery.

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival

Every October, the Namgang River in front of Jinjuseong Fortress gets a bit brighter during the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. Because the focus of the festival is on lanterns, most events take place at night, with lanterns in all shapes, sizes, and themes decorating the festival grounds. In addition to first-hand experiences like making a lantern to float, riding a boat, or crossing the river on a temporary bridge, visitors can also enjoy watching fireworks, a drone light show, and a media art show. With so much to see and do, it’s no wonder the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is one of Korea’s representative fall festivals.

Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival

Located just an hour outside of Seoul, the land in Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do is famous for its fertility, great at growing a plethora of produce, including rice, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. Records from the Joseon dynasty state that various local produce were shipped along the river, bound for the royal kitchen. The Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival celebrates this grand history, promoting the region’s outstanding produce and traditional culture. At the site of the old quay, a recreation of a marketplace is set up, while produce sales and folk activities are available in another area. The festival is a great way to experience Yeoju’s history, culture, nature, and food all at once.

* This page was last updated in July 2024, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.