Sharing is caring!

When planning our trip to South Korea, we wanted to make sure we really immersed ourselves in the Korean way-of-life. Plus, we love experiencing festivals around the world. It’s no surprise that when we heard about the Andong Mask Dance Festival, we just had to go. And wow, it did impress us! Andong may not be on many visitors’ list of places to visit in South Korea, but it’s well worth the detour. In our post, we’ve included everything you want to know about this amazing South Korean festival, as well as all the fun things to do in Andong and around it! We hope that you will one day be able to experience this city and festival for yourself!

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers. Cheers!

Where is Andong in South Korea?

Andong is the capital of North Gyeongsang Province and its largest city. The Nakdong River flows through it. But what sets this city apart is that it’s the center of culture and folk traditions.

In fact, there is a rumor that when Queen Elizabeth came to visit South Korea in 1999, she asked to be taken to the “most Korean place in Korea”. And where was she taken? Andong, of course!

Things to know about this Korean cultural festival

Masks play a big role in Korean culture. Back in the day, the Korean masks were used for different purposes ranging from war, ceremonial and shamanistic events and theatrical plays.

Andong plays host to the Mask Dance Festival which started out as a 2-day event back in 1997. Today, it lasts 10 days and is packed with activities, shows, performances, festivities that take place all around the city. It’s one of the coolest and most traditional Korean cultural festivals in the country.

The festival evolved from being mainly shamanists to an occasion where the common people could make fun of the people with a higher power, like monks, noblemen, and government officials. This is very apparent in the types of shows we saw on stage. Although we have to warn you, not knowing what is said in the shows makes them a little odd… For example, in one of the shows we saw, there was a lot of domestic violence and some ‘peeing’ on stage!

Although there are celebrations all around the city during this South Korean festival, most of the happenings are concentrated around the main site which is the Mask Dance Park.

In 2020, the Andong Mask Dance festival will take place from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, October 4.

What to expect at this South Korean Festival

Entrance to the Andong Mask Dance festival site is free, although some shows require payment (adults will pay 7,000 won, while children & seniors pay 5,000 won).

Let’s start with the most important thing: food! At the main site at Mask Dance Park, you will find stall after stall serving local food. Korean pancakes, soups, stews, seafood (a lot of it), chicken and meat, and insects, of course! To be honest, the food choices for vegetarians and vegans are quite limited, though you will find some options. The food is cheap but delicious. If you want to be eco-friendly, we’ve included some tips for you to be more eco-friendly at the festival.

On top of great food, expect tons of performances. There is a main stage where hosts will get the crowd dancing and partying. A lot of the mask dancing you’ll see is done according to the artistic Korean traditions. This art is regarded as one of the important and highly estimated arts in Korea. You can see famous bands of Korean masks’ dancers, as well as dancers from other nearby countries, perform at the festival. Not only are there mask dancing shows, but also, pantomime shows, marionette performances, and musical acts. This festival is really a great showcase of Korean traditional culture.

If you’re looking to party, head to the main stage. The hosts there were great in getting all the festival-goers to dance. The energy of the crowd, their joy and excitement were palpable.

Finally, if you’re looking to make a mask of your own, you’ll find stall upon stall offering you the chance to do so. You can also buy a ton of traditional Korean trinkets.

The festivities at the Andong Mask Dance Festival

The party is not only limited to the main site. There are a ton of things going on in the city as well.

Walking around downtown Andong one night, we were treated to performances on the streets. Ranging from opera, R&B, pop and everything in between. The crowd lining up to take in these shows varied greatly.

There were teenagers supporting their performing friends, children bopping their heads to the beat, and older people engrossed in the beautiful music on display, all in such an out-of-the-box environment.

Festivities at Moon Light Bridge Park

The next day, while strolling through the Moon Light Bridge park, we stumbled into a traditional home, a hanok.

The city was offering complimentary tea tastings along with a crash course on Korean tea etiquette, great for foreigners looking to bask in the culture.  We were also treated to a sweet traditional cookie, the dasik. These cookies are made from finely ground sesame seeds, green tea powder, and more deliciousness – they just melt in your mouth!

Seonyu Julbul Nori in Hahoe Folk Village

Finally, on the last day of the festival, we spent the day in Hahoe, a UNESCO world heritage site.

We climbed to the summit of Buyongdae, a cliff overlooking the village. We were in awe in front of the beauty of this little town. On this same cliff, workers were preparing the night’s festivities – the “Seonyu Julbul Nori”.

This is a traditional fireworks display over the Nakdong river, where tiny bags are stringed across the river and lit on fire. The small explosions create the illusion of stars falling into the river. This was a beautiful sight to see, and one that won’t soon be forgotten!

You can read all about the Seonyu Julbul Nori in our dedicated article here.

How to get to Hahoe Folk Village

To get to Hahoe Folk Village, take Bus 46 at the bus stop across from Andong Intercity Bus Terminal. You simply get off at Hahoe Folk Village, about 40-50 minutes later.

Things to do in Andong

If you’re looking for things to do in Andong, know that there’s not a ton going on here. But you can still enjoy the things the city has to offer:

1. Visit Hahoe traditional Folk Village
   Because much of the town is untouched, it’s really fun to visit the village and take in the traditional architecture and city plan. Dating back some 600 years, the village is home to the descendants of the Ryu clan of Pungsan.
2. Stay in a traditional home
   While you’re in Hahoe, you have a chance of staying in a choga. That’s a traditional house with a straw-thatched roof. Luckily, the homes now have modern amenities, like electricity and cable. It’s a great way to experience South Korea’s rural past.
3. Hike up Buyongdae Cliff
   While you’re in Hahoe, you can hike up Buyongdae Cliff and get a great view of Hahoe Folk Village. You can also take a ferry on the Nakdong river if hiking is not your thing.
4. Have a shot of soju at the Andong Soju museum
   Soju is Korea’s national drink, and Andong is where the best soju in Korea is made! This dates back to the 13th century when Mongol invaders brought their arak’s distillation methods to the Andong region. Unlike in the rest of the country, soju from Andong is created using a blend of fermented and distilled rice and grains. It’s really delicious! So when you’re here, make sure you check out one of the best things to do in Andong… drink soju!
5. Walk across the Wolyeonggyo Bridge
   We mentioned the festivities at the Moonlight bridge park, but one of the musts of visiting the park is crossing this bridge. It’s the longest wooden bridge in Korea, coming in at 387 meters long. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Andong… and Korea. At the bridge, you can also catch the light show (at 8:30 pm in the summer, and 5:40 pm in the winter) and the fountain show at 12:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 8 pm in the summer months.
6. Check out the Confucian Culture Museum
   Surprisingly, it’s the only one in Korea, so it’s well worth the visit if you’re interested in the teachings of Confucius. There are nine exhibition rooms and one special expo room to discover.

How to be eco-friendly at the Andong Mask Dance festival

Here are a few tips to be more sustainable at the Andong Mask Dance festival:

• Bring a reusable water bottle: As always, we recommend having a reusable water bottle with you, like the Lifestraw Go. You can refill the bottle freely from the tap without worrying about getting sick.
• Bring your own cutlery and container: If you plan on eating at the Andong Mask Dance Festival, we highly recommend you avoid using the plastic cutlery and plates they offer. Instead, bring your own so you reduce the amount of waste.
• Bring a backpack: In case you want to buy things, avoid using a plastic bag. Instead, just bring your backpack!
• Pick up trash: Although Koreans are quite proud of their beautiful country and take great efforts in keeping it clean, there is still some litter around. When you can, please pick up the trash you see.

How to get to Andong from Seoul by bus

When we came to Andong, we arrived from Seoul. We left and headed to Busan after the closing event at Hahoe Folk Village.

From Seoul, you can get to Andong by bus. The ride should take around 3 hours and should cost 16,000 won. In Seoul, there are two bus terminals that have busses to Andong: Gangnam Express Bus Terminal or East Express Bus Terminal (aka Dong Seoul Bus Terminal). The buses run every 30 minutes. Check prices and timetables here.

From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, we took the intercity bus bound for Andong Bus Terminal. Be warned that it may take longer than 3 hours as many locals head to Andong for the festival, especially on weekends. We learned this the hard way – our trip lasted closer to 4 hours in all, including one bathroom stop along the way. Also, be sure to book your tickets in advance if you are going on a weekend as they do tend to get full.

To get to the Mask Dance Park, from the Andong terminal, you can take a taxi, which is about 15 minutes away. Or, you can also take a 17-minute bus ride on busses #80, 276, 11, 240, 242, 243, 244, 246, 272, 351, 377, 436, 438, 628 to the Andong Train Station. The festival grounds are located just behind the train station, about a 5-minute walk away.

How to get to Busan from Andong

After the Mask Dance Festival, we headed to Busan. To get to Busan from Andong, we took another intercity bus from the Andong bus station. We purchased the tickets on the same day as the bus leaves hourly. The ride is about 2.5 to 3 hours long and costs about 26,000 won. You can check for timetables and tickets here.

Where to stay in Andong, South Korea

Andong is not a very big city. We would recommend staying in the city center to make things easier for you. There are some great options for hotels available in any price range. Just make sure you book ahead of time as accommodations tend to get booked quite quickly during the festival.

Since we wanted a fully local experience, we chose to stay with a local through Couchsurfing. Joy was an incredible hostess and treated us like family. We even had the chance to stay with her mother right near Hahoe village. Overall, we loved our time with her and hope that our paths will cross somewhere in the world again!

What to pack for the Andong Mask Dance festival

The weather in South Korea during the end of September to early October is still quite nice. Average temperatures range from 25 degrees Celcius during the day and dip to about 10 degrees at night. Although you can expect some rainfall, it’s nothing too heavy.

The best way to dress for this Korean festival is to wear layers. Always have a raincoat or umbrella handy. And of course, wear comfy walking shoes. You’ll be on your feet most of the day, so this is your safest bet!

We truly loved our time in Andong. Although it’s not on many people’s radar or bucket list in terms of must-see Korean cities, the Andong Mask Dance Festival is still one of our favorite experiences!

Have we convinced you to visit the Andong Mask Dance festival yet? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments… and if you’re planning to go this year!

---

We put a lot of time and effort into the content we create.  Please like, comment and share, every action on your part helps us out tremendously and is very much appreciated.

You can also help us by pinning it for others to find.

---