The best way to immerse yourself in the culture and history of a country is to join in and take part in a festival event. Koreans love a party it seems and there are over forty outstanding festivals throughout the country in 2015. And many of them concern food!

Wanju Wild Food Festival, September, 2015

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Held to spread knowledge of Wanju, a city where one can experience cheonryeop (river-fishing), Korean wilderness, and nostalgia, the festival also provides nature-friendly food experiences using local agricultural products, along with varied wild plants and animals from Wanju. This festival aims to give visitors a feeling of nostalgia for food from the past through diverse hands-on food programs, surrounded by nature. â€¨Venue: The area of Gosan Recreation Forest in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do

Hyoseok Cultural Festival, September, 2015

This 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. Venue: Bongpyeong-myeon Munhwa (Culture) Village area in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival, July, 2015

This is held around Gungnamji Pond, an artificial pond constructed during the reign of King Muwang of the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.). 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. â€¨Venue: Seodong Park (Gungnamji) area (Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do)

Bonghwa Eun-eo (Sweet Fish) Festival, July 2015

This takes place in Bonghwa, a well-preserved natural habitat surrounded by mountains, trees, clean water, and fresh air. Eun-eo, or sweet fish, only live near the source of clean and clear streams. Visitors can cool down while catching fish in Naeseongcheon Stream with their bare hands. In addition, visitors can engage in night fishing or enjoy some eun-eo barbeque. â€¨Venue: Bonghwa-eup Sports Park, Naeseongcheon Stream area (Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do)

Boseong Green Tea Festival, May, 2015

The largest green tea festival in Korea takes place in the Boseong Green Tea Plantations, 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. â€¨Venue: 775 Noksa-ro, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (1200, Bongsan-ri)


Herb Medicine Festival, May, 2015

Daegu Yangnyeongsi is known for its rich history and traditional eastern medicine culture. Designated as an official Culture & Tourism Festival in 2001, the festival has since become a signature celebration that promotes traditional Korean medicine worldwide. Throughout the festival, visitors can learn the history of traditional Korean medicine and experience traditional medical treatments. â€¨Venue: Yangnyeongsi area in Jung-gu, Daegu

Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival, November, 2015

This is a combination of two festivals: Yeoju Farm Festival and Sweet Potato Festival, based on Yeoju’s representative products, rice and sweet potato, respectively. Visitors to the festival can find Yeoju’s quality agricultural and local specialty products and enjoy participating in a wide range of fun, informative programs. Venue: Yeoju-gun area, Gyeonggi-do

Sunchang fermented soybean festival, November 2015

Sunchang, a village famous for its citizens’ longevity and for the production of red-pepper paste, holds this 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.
 Venue: Sunchang Gochujang Village and Gangcheonsan Mountain (Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do)

Goseong Myeongtae Festival, October, 2015

To ensure a good haul and community prosperity, this festival is held at Geojinhang Port, known as the primary place of Pollack fish in Korea. The festival includes numerous hands-on events such as a sea festival, a cultural festival, and a local culture experience. The festival has helped the city to promote their local seafood, farm products and other specialties, thus contributing to the growth of the local economy. â€¨Venue: Geojin-ri, Geojin-eup, Goseong-gun in Gangwon-do

Incheon Rice Festival, October 2015

Since ancient times, Icheon’s expansive open fields have offered the perfect conditions for growing rice, continuing to be one of the major rice producers in Korea. This festival combines two of Icheon’s symbols, rice and agriculture, is held in late October to celebrate the year of good harvest. â€¨Venue: Seolbong Park in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Ganggyeong Fermented Seafood Festival, October 2015

The city of Ganggyeong produces half of all fermented seafood produced in the country. It is here that Ganggyeong Fermented Seafood Festival is held to offer visitors fresh and tasty fermented seafood at a relatively low price compared to most other parts of the country. In addition, cooking programs with fermented seafood, crafting wish lanterns, and more hands-on activities are enough to draw visitors all year around. â€¨Venue: Ganggyeongpogu Port, Fermented Seafood Market and Fermented Seafood Exhibition Hall area (Ganggyeong-eup, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do)

For more details on these and all other festivals planned for this year visit.....

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