Festivals - Korea travel and tourism information

Jeongseon Arirang Festival (정선아리랑제)

2026-07-20

104, Bongyang-ri, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-560-3013~5

The Jeongseon Arirang Festival is Jeongseon County’s signature cultural tourism festival created to preserve and carry forward the history, cultural value, and traditions of Jeongseon Arirang, one of Korea’s best-known folk songs. Celebrating Arirang, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the festival brings together performances that blend tradition with contemporary elements, parades, hands-on programs, exhibitions, and various cultural and artistic events for visitors of all ages. The festival is also shaped by the local community, with residents taking on an active role in its planning and operation. Programs connecting Jeongseon’s cultural and tourism resources help boost the local economy and attract more visitors to the region. Building on the cultural legacy of Arirang and the unique traditions of Jeongseon, the festival seeks to establish itself as Korea’s leading Arirang celebration and grow into a global cultural tourism festival that people around the world can enjoy and relate to.

Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival (안성맞춤 남사당 바우덕이축제)

2026-08-25

198, Namsadang-ro, Bogae-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-678-5414

The Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival is centered on Namsadang Nori, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It preserves and builds on the artistic legacy of Baudeogi, the first female kkokdusoe (troupe leader) of the Joseon era, and the vibrant traditions of Anseong’s Namsadang troupe. The festival offers a rich mix of programs for all ages, from traditional cultural experiences and performances by Korean and international artists to folk performances from around the world. Visitors can also explore the Anseong Old Market, which recreates the lively atmosphere of one of the three major marketplaces in Korea during the Joseon period. Highlights include jultagi (tightrope walking) and Namsadang Nori, giving visitors a close-up look at some of Korea’s most dynamic traditional performing arts. Performances that blend traditional and contemporary elements make the festival an engaging way to experience the energy and appeal of Korean culture. Bringing together history, culture, performance, and tourism, the Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival has established itself as a cultural tourism festival enjoyed by visitors from Korea and abroad, and continues to grow as one of Korea’s leading festivals celebrating traditional culture.

Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival (대구약령시한방문화축제)

2026-05-15

Namseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
+82-53-254-1658

Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival, held in the 366-year-old Daegu Yangnyeongsi, offers a rich experience of traditional herbal medicine culture. Visitors can enjoy free consultations with herbal medicine doctors, herbal foot baths, and unique programs such as Joseon Gutpan: Herbal Club and Zombie Street.

Gwangalli Eobang Festival (광안리어방축제)

2026-06-25

219, Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan
+82-51-610-4212

The Suyeong area has long been rich in fishery resources and was one of the first places in Busan where fishing developed on a large scale. During the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeongsang Jwasuyeong Naval Command was established here, along with eobang, a cooperative fishing organization formed by local fishers and naval forces. The fishing practices of that era have been preserved and passed down through Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori, a traditional folk performance based on the work and customs of fishing communities. The Gwangalli Eobang Festival takes its name from this heritage. Celebrating the history of Gyeongsang Jwasuyeong and the folk traditions of Korea's coastal fishing villages, it has become one of Busan’s representative cultural festivals.

Cancelled: Daegaya Festival (대가야체험축제)

2022-05-09

1216, Daegaya-ro, Goryeong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-54-950-6424

Daegaya (AD 42-562) was a nation that inhabited the Korean Peninsula around the 4th Century. The nation was a sophisticated nation that even at this early age possessed extremely high standards of culture. They created the Gayageum (a twelve-stringed traditional Korean harp). Through the relics found in the area, the nation was thought to be a powerful force in the area (now Gyeongsangnam-do). This festival offers various interactive programs to experience the nation with relic exhibition, wooden boat-making and others. Also, tourists can experience the farming culture like harvesting strawberries from the nearby rural village.

Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival (영암왕인문화축제)

2026-07-21

440, Wangin-ro, Gunseo-myeon, Yeongam-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
+82-61-470-2346

First held in 1997, the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival is one of Korea’s leading Cultural Tourism Festivals and has been held every spring at the Historical Site of Wangin. Dr. Wangin played a pivotal role in cultural exchange across ancient East Asia. Through him, Baekje’s advanced culture and Confucian classics crossed the Korea Strait and reached the Japanese archipelago. His teachings represented far more than a transfer of knowledge; they became a driving force behind the emergence of Asuka culture, the golden age of ancient Japanese civilization. Wangin’s profound scholarship, together with the flowing Yeongsangang River and Sangdaepo Port, symbolizes the currents of exchange that carried culture across the sea. Here in Yeongam, visitors can rediscover the roots of Asuka culture.

Ulsan Onggi Festival (울산옹기축제)

2026-06-29

36, Oegosan 3-gil, Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
+82-52-980-2235

The Ulsan Onggi Festival is Korea’s only festival dedicated to onggi, the traditional earthenware that has been an integral part of Korean life for more than a thousand years. Held in Oegosan Onggi Village in Ulju-gun, where artisans continue to produce onggi using traditional techniques, the festival naturally serves as a showcase the region’s signature craft. It also contributes to the promotion of everyday onggi use and the continued development of this traditional industry. Visitors can enjoy onggi-making demonstrations by master artisans, as well as a variety of hands-on programs, exhibitions, and performances.

Jarasum Jazz Festival (자라섬재즈페스티벌)

2023-05-24

1-1, Daljeon-ri, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-31-581-2813~4

The Jarasum International Jazz Festival is held every October on the beautiful Jaraseom Island in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. During the festival, world-famous jazz artists come together to delight audiences with the smooth vibes of live jazz.

As a Green Life Honorary Ambassador, the festival is also passionate about environmental protection. In order to share the external growth with the community, the festival holds Gapyeong Band Contest, publishes Gapyeong Restaurant Guidebook, and produces Jazz Makgeolli and Jazz Wine made from the region’s produce.

Gwangju Kimchi Festival (광주김치축제)

2026-06-30

111 Naebang-ro, Seo-gu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City
+82-62-613-3955

*The information below is based on the 2025 festivals. Details for the 2026 festivals will be updated as they become available.*The Gwangju Kimchi Festival is Korea’s representative kimchi festival, offering a variety of kimchi products for purchase and the chance to taste various kimchi dishes. Highlights include the “Thousand People’s Table” featuring diverse kimchi cuisine, a competition to discover kimchi masters, and a kimchi experience school with a range of engaging programs.

Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival (고창모양성제)

2024-07-17

Eumnae-ri, Gochang-eup, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-560-2949

Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival has been held since 1973 to inspire admiration for the construction of the walled town, develop local culture, and encourage love and pride for Gochang residents. Main events include a celebration and memorial ceremony, with additional events ranging from a pansori performance and farming music to folk games and archery. Many people participate in the Dapseongnori event, where participants carry a rock on top of their heads and walk around the fortress three times. Doing this is said to cure all illnesses, grant a long and healthy life, and allow one into heaven.

Festivals - Korea travel information