Festivals - Korea travel and tourism information

Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjinseong Fortress (웅진성수문병 근무교대식)

2090 2022-12-21

280, Woongjin-ro, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-41-856-7700

The Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjinseong Fortress takes place at Gongsanseong Fortress, a part of the Baekje Historic Areas which is a desginated UNESCO's World Heritage Site. The ceremony reenacts the service of the guards defending the castle, using costumes and props based on the strict analysis of the historical records. The ceremony is held every Saturday and Sunday from April to November except during hot summer season of June to August, and conducted every day during the Baekje Culture Festival in the fall. The event includes martial art performances and various experiences as well as the main ceremony, aiming at promoting Gongju-si, where the Baekje culture flourished, and its valuable heritage Gongsanseong Fortress.

Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival (경포 해맞이 축제)

15243 2022-12-14

514, Changhae-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-33-640-5530, 5913

Gangneung hosts an annual Sunrise Festival from New Year's Eve to the first sunrise of the New Year. As well as visiting the area’s attractions such as Gyeongpodae Pavilion, visitors can welcome the New Year by watching a beautiful sunrise. The Sunrise Festival includes a countdown to the New Year, fireworks, and various enjoyable cultural events.

Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival (여수 향일암일출제)

11759 2022-12-14

70-4, Hyangiram-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-61-659-4743, +82-1899-2012

Hyangiram Sunrise Festival is an annual overnight festival that begins on New Year's Eve. It takes place at the historic Hyangiram Hermitage, which was built in the year 644. As the New Year's Day dawns, visitors can witness the sun rise above the horizon from Hyangiram, which literally means "a hermitage facing the sun."

Gapyeong Singsing Trout Festival (가평씽씽송어축제)

41429 2022-12-14

119, Gapyeongjebang-gil, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-31-581-6423

Gapyeong Singsing Trout Festival offers various hands-on programs and winter activities such as ice fishing, snow sledding, ice sledding, bumper cars on ice, and more. Visitors can also enjoy performances at the event zone.

Pyeongchang Trout Festival (평창송어축제)

126820 2022-12-14

3562, Gyeonggang-ro, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-33-336-4000

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival takes place during winter in Pyeongchang, 700 meters above sea level. Visitors to the festival can enjoy a variety of programs including ice and lure fishing for trout, snow programs, ice programs, folk programs, and more. Any trout caught from ice fishing and lure fishing can be prepared right away in different dishes at a nearby restaurant.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천산천어축제)

152546 2022-12-14

137, Sancheoneo-gil, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-1688-3005

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival takes place in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do with plenty of snow and ice, perfect for a winter getaway. It was even introduced by CNN as one of the "Seven Winter Wonders" in 2011. The main event of the festival, ice fishing, takes place on the frozen Hwacheoncheon Stream. The festival has been visited by more than a million people, attesting to the festival's charm. In addition to the various festival programs such as ice fishing, ice sledding, and bobsled, visitors can get a taste of the freshly caught trout grilled on the spot.

Inje Icefish Festival (인제 빙어축제)

29316 2022-12-14

555-2 beon-ji, Bupyeong-ri, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-1577-8924

The Inje Icefish Festival takes place within the pristine nature of Inje. Visitors can enjoy fishing as well as other exciting winter activities. The festival was first held in 1997 and has grown with each year thanks to the interest and support of visitors.

Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival (정동진 해맞이 축제)

16281 2022-12-14

Jeongdongjin2-ri, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-33-640-5530, 5913

Many people come to celebrate a fresh start at the Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival on the eve of one year and the first day of the New Year at Sandglass Park. The sandglass at the park has a diameter of 8.06 meters, a x_width of 3.2 meters, a weight of 40 tons, and holds 8 tons of sand, making it one of the biggest sandglasses in the world. It takes a whole year for sand to trickle to the bottom and then the sandglass restarts again on New Year’s Day each year at midnight.

Festival events include a fireworks display, the turning of the sandglass to start another year, and performances by various artists.

Homigot Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전)

20816 2022-12-14

136, Haemaji-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-54-289-7852~8

Homigot Village, the main venue of the Homigot Sunrise Festival, is located on the easternmost point of the Korean Peninsula. Homigot Village means "a village on a tiger’s tail," in reference to the Korean peninsula looking like a tiger.

The festival includes local cultural performances, a New Year celebratory event, fireworks show, sunrise concert and other diverse performances. Visitors may sample free tteokguk, a traditional New Year’s Day dish. Other events such as kite-flying and launching hope balloons with wishes attached will provide enjoyable moments to reflect on the previous year and create new year resolutions.

Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival (울산 간절곶 해맞이)

17724 2022-12-14

39-2, Ganjeolgot 1-gil, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-52-204-0313

Ganjeolgot Cape in Ulsan is the first place in Korea to see the the sunrise each day, with its end point sticking out into the ocean. The cape is the site of the annual New Year’s Sunrise Festival. The festival starts at sunset on December 31 and is filled with a wide range of performances that last throughout the night. At first light, people can be seen quietly standing with their hands clasped together, making a wish on the newly born year as they watch the sun rise over the ocean.

Festivals - Korea travel information