Festivals - Korea travel and tourism information

Korea World Travel Fair (한국국제관광전)

2019-06-11

513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-757-6161

Korean World Travel Fair, Korea’s longest and most reliable travel fair, will take place. The fair aims to actively communicate new tour ideas, tour items, and tourism information from nearly 500 participating companies from 60 different nations. As part of the fair, various events including the promotion of tour items and destinations, exhibitions of tourism souvenirs, tourism seminars and world folk performances will take place.

Yeongdong Nangye Korean Traditional Music Festival (영동난계국악축제)

2025-03-17

33 Gugak-ro 1-gil, Simcheon-myeon, Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-43-745-8912

The Yeongdong Nangye Traditional Music Festival is held in Yeongdong, the hometown of the brilliant Korean musician Park Yeon (pen name: Nangye). This festival celebrates his legacy and contributions to traditional Korean music. In addition to gugak (traditional Korean music) performances, visitors can enjoy gugak performances fused with contemporary music, a Jongmyo Jeryeak dance, and a demonstration of the Royal Family’s promenade. Festival activities include playing traditional instruments at the main hall or making and playing traditional instruments at the booths. The Korea Wine Festival, which boasts the best-quality wine, is held at the same time and place as the Music Festival, so visitors can enjoy Korea’s traditional music with a glass of wine in hand.

◎ Park Yeon (Nangye)
Park Yeon was a civil official of the court in the early years of the Joseon Dynasty. He is considered one of Korea’s three major musicians, along with Wang Sanak and Ureuk. Park’s active contribution to the development of Korean music has earned him the title “the father of gugak.”

Hyoseok Cultural Festival (평창효석문화제)

2025-01-03

157 Ihyoseok-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-335-2323

Korean novelist Lee Hyo-seok is from Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, and is known for his novels that combine stories with the beauty of nature. The Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival, held every autumn in Bongpyeong, the setting of his famous work “When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,” celebrates his legacy and showcases the region’s beauty. The festival runs a variety of literary programs, such as an essay contest, a poetry event, and bookmaking. In the evening, there are small-scale literary and music performances to add to the romantic charm of the festivities. During the festival, the fields near the village are filled with white buckwheat flowers, creating a spectacular view as though they were waves of white snow rippling in the wind. A key highlight of the festival is capturing memorable photos against the backdrop of the buckwheat fields, which are the most cherished mementos of the event.

◎ The short novel “When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,” published in 1936, is a beloved work that captures themes of love and humor set against a buckwheat field. In September, Bongpyeong reaches the peak of its beauty with fields of white buckwheat flowers in full bloom.

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival (인천펜타포트 락 페스티벌)

2025-01-09

350 Central-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon
+82-32-899-7423

The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival is Korea’s premier rock festival. It features performances by world-renowned rock bands as well as talented emerging bands. The festival is highly popular because of its exclusive lineup. One of the highlights of the festival is the outdoor Camping Zone, where attendees can set up tents with a view of the stage and stay for up to three days. This attracts trendy individuals looking to enjoy both camping and a rock festival. The festival boasts three stages with various artist lineups, enhancing its popularity.

◎ Tip
The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival offers a paid shuttle bus service known as “Ggoggama.” This service operates round trips on 13 routes nationwide, including seven routes in the metropolitan area.

Muan White Lotus Festival (무안연꽃축제)

2022-09-06

Sanjeong-ri, Illo-eup, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-61-450-5472

Muan is home to Hoesan White Lotus Habitat, the largest habitat of the white lotus flower in Asia, spanning 330,000 square meters in size. While most lotus flowers are pink, the lotus flowers in Muan are snow white, which is very rare. During the Muan White Lotus Festival, visitors can enjoy a landscape filled with white lotus flowers and lotus-themed activities.

Seoul Fringe Festival (서울프린지페스티벌)

2024-07-26

84-3 Seongmisan-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
+82-2-325-8150

Seoul Fringe Festival has been held every summer annually since 1998. The festival is open to artists of all genres, from dance to music and media art. Due to the open style and non-competitive element of the festival, artists and festival-goers alike are free to express themselves however they choose.

Seoul Character & Licensing Fair (서울 캐릭터라이선싱페어)

2022-08-25

513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-6000-8571

Seoul Character & Licensing Fair aims to globalize Korean character content through active business exchange among participating businesses, buyers, and event participants. The fair is not only suited for interested businesses, but also provides family-friendly events.

Goesan Red Pepper Festival (괴산고추축제)

2025-01-09

113 Imkkeokjeong-ro, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-43-830-3463

The Goesan Red Pepper Festival celebrates Goesan’s specialty red peppers and other agricultural products, offering a variety of experiences and food. Held at the Goesan Organic Expo Plaza, the festival features creative pepper-themed programs, the Organic Goesan Singing Contest, and the Hot Chimac Festival.

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (부천 국제판타스틱영화제)

2022-08-10

210, Gilju-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-32-327-6313

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) has grown by leaps and became the most representative festival of Bucheon. BIFAN hosts creative and futuristic programs that appeal to the general public as well as provides opportunities to see movies of diverse genres in a whole new perspective. BIFAN has maintained a long-term partnership with the European Fantasy Film Festivals Federation and Yubari Fantastic Film Festival and received recognition as one of Asia's largest fantastic film festivals.

Gangneung Danoje Festival (강릉단오제)

2023-05-17

1, Danojang-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-33-641-1593

The Gangneung Danoje Festival was designated a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005 and Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 13 in 1967. The festival serves to preserve the folk culture of the Joseon dynasty and has been a popular festival since 1975. The festival features media art using video clips and photos to portray the beauty of Danoje through contemporary art. Various programs are available both online and offline for visitors to enjoy.

Festivals - Korea travel information