Summer festivals are the best way to cool off the Korean summer heat. Grab the fence and let yourself go rockin’, crack open some cold ones with fried chicken on a grass lawn, or pamper your skin with the finest mud. No matter what you choose, these festivals will make your time unforgettable with the things that you can enjoy only in Korea. Here are some of the festivals that you can choose from.

• Daegu Chimac Festival

Koreans love “chimac” (a combination of fried chicken and beer, maekju in Korean), and what better place to enjoy the combo than Daegu, the center of the “chimac” culture and the host of the Chimac Festival? After all, Daegu is where many of Korea’s fried chicken franchises got their start, from Kyochon to Mexicana. The best thing about Daegu Chimac Festival is the fact that you can sample a truly delicious variety of fried chicken in one giant picnic held on a grassy field. From unique pubs serving the titular combo to EDM parties hosted by famous singers, the festival never disappoints when it comes to side activities.

• Boryeong Mud Festival

This is a festival dedicated to Boryeong’s famous mud from Daecheon Beach. The Boryeong Mud Festival has a global reputation, attracting hundreds of thousands of international visitors from all over the world every year, and for good reason, as the festival offers a variety of attractions and interactive programs for unforgettable memories. In the Regular Zone, which is for adults, you can enjoy full body activities such as large mud baths and mud slides. In the Family Zone, both adults and children can cover themselves with mud and play together. You can also participate in programs such as mud self-massage and colored mud painting, which utilize the benefits of Boryeong mud in different ways.

• Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival

As one of the most famous rock festivals in Korea, Pentaport Rock Festival is a global festival that unites the world through music. Each year, the festival invites top musicians from around the world to create stages that set the hearts of the audience on fire. This year’s Pentaport Rock Festival features the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter Jack White; Turnstile, one of the world’s leading hardcore punk bands in the world; as well as Jannabi, sunwoojunga, and SE SO NEON. The festival will feature standing areas for the dancers and the headbangers, as well as a picnic area for a more relaxed experience.

• Gangneung Culture Night

This is a night festival celebrating the cultural heritage of Gangneung, a coastal city on the East Sea. It will be held at the Gangneung-daedohobu Government Office, a designated cultural heritage site, with special nighttime exhibitions, performances, and experience programs. The highlight of the festival will be a reenactment of the street performance held by Gangneung residents to welcome the new governors during the Joseon dynasty. Other features include a drone light show, light tunnels inspired by Gangneung’s cultural heritages, and hanbok fashion shows featuring Gangneung residents.

* This column was last updated in June 2024, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates from the official website before visiting.