We really have a thing for festivals. We try to experience them all around the world. And we’ve managed to see them in a few countries like Thailand, Armenia, and South Korea. We were actually lucky enough to experience four different South Korean festivals during our six weeks in the country. Each one was cooler than the next. so we asked a few of our favorite bloggers to let us know what theirs were as well. From traditional Korean festivals to cultural Korean festivals, we have the best and most famous festivals in Korea for you here. So if you’re looking for something different to do in South Korea, read on!
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 If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.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!
We love helping you plan amazing trips. If you need any of these services, consider booking them through our affiliate links. Without costing you anything extra, you will be helping support us so we can continue to write these blogs for you.
We thank you again for your continued support.
🏠 Find the perfect place to stay with Booking.com
✈️ Get the cheapest flights with Skyscanner
🚣 Book your favorite activities with Viator
💻 Make sure you have everything you need for your epic trip by checking our store on Amazon
What to expect at these South Korean festivals
South Korea has a unique and very rich culture. The best way to get a glimpse into what this is by participating in one of the many famous Korean festivals that take place throughout the year. What is so great about it, is that there is literally something for everyone to enjoy.
In fact, although each festival caters to different interests, you can always find something for every age group to enjoy. These South Korean festivals really have a beautiful way of making the event inclusive for all.
You can always expect to see tons of people at these festivals. Although some cater more to locals, like the Andong Mask Dance Festival and Seonyu Julbul Nori, others, attract people from all over the world, like the Boryeong Mud Festival, the cherry blossom festivals, and the Busan International Film Festival. You may even run into some celebrities while you’re there!
Often, you will find a great variety of food at these famous Korean festivals. It’s a great time to taste local delicacies and some more exotic dishes. Though, be warned that it is sometimes harder to find Korean food for vegans and even vegetarians!
If you plan on visiting South Korea during these festivals, we highly recommend you book your accommodations and travel tickets ahead of time. Even local festivals sometimes attract a large number of people!
How to travel around to the different festivals in Korea
If you plan on going from city to city to see these festivals, don’t fret! The public transportation system in South Korea is one of the best we’ve seen. From busses, trains, subways or taxis, getting from one place to the next is easy! Just beware, because Google Maps doesn’t actually work that well in Korea. Instead, check out Naver (though it is only in Korean, you can search with GPS coordinates and phone numbers)
The trains and subways in Korea have English translations on the maps, as well as English announcements. It’s so helpful for tourists who are trying to navigate around big cities, where not many speak English!
The most famous festivals in Korea according to travel bloggers
Regardless of when you go, you will likely find a ton of awesome things to do in Korea. But if you have the chance to go during one of these famous festivals, get ready to have a blast!
What better way to get an insider look at Korean life, meet locals, and live unforgettable experiences than to go to one of these festivals in South Korea!
So here are the seven best South Korean festivals according to top travel bloggers:
The popular Cherry Blossom Festival – The best South Korean festival in the spring
Collaboration by Be Marie Korea
The cherry blossoms are a huge thing in Korea. It’s one of the most popular times to visit Korea, and this is one of the most famous festivals in South Korea. It starts mid to late March and lasts about two to three weeks.
There are many different parks and locations in Seoul that are stunning during this season, but if you want to see the crème de la crème and enjoy the full cherry blossom experience, make your way to Jinhae.
During the cherry blossom season, the city organizes a cherry blossom festival spread around different locations around the city. This South Korean festival runs for around a week and loads of events and performances happen all around the city. If you’re looking for the best place to see the Cherry Blossoms in Jinhae, head to Yeojwacheon Stream and Gyeonghwa Station.
If you are only in Korea for a short period of time, it is recommended to book an organized day trip from Seoul. This way you won’t have to worry about getting there and can just enjoy the beautiful Cherry Blossoms.
Keep in mind that this is the most popular Cherry Blossom Festival in Korea and that it will be very crowded. Make sure to book your accommodations and transportation ahead of time!
The famous Boryyeong Mud Festival – An awesome summer festival in South Korea
Collaboration by Torn Tackies Travel Blog
The Boryeong Mud Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Korea. The Mud Festival in Korea attracts people of all ages who are looking to enjoy a weekend filled with sun, sea, music, and of course… mud!
The festival was first established to promote Boryeong’s mud base products which are said to contain anti-aging properties and nutrients that leave your skin glowing. The festival has since grown into one of the most famous festivals in Korea.
The Boryeong Mud Festival in Korea takes place over 2 weekends in July every year. In 2020, the dates for this traditional festival in Korea are estimated to be on Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 26.
Located in a small seaside village on the west coast of Korea, Daecheon Beach is home to the mud festival. During the festival time, the sleepy town of Boryeong takes on a new look and the atmosphere is electric! The streets are buzzing with excitement with the official mud zone being the biggest attraction.
Here, you can take part in a variety of mud activities including mud wrestling, mud soccer, mud fights, and mudslides. If you walk further along Daecheon Beach you’ll find the kids mud zone, parades, live K-Pop performances, fireworks displays and so much more.
Tickets for the mud zone are $10 and all other activities happening in the area are free of charge. For more information, check out this guide of 10 things you need to know about visiting the Boryeong Mud Festival!
You can also check out the official website of the Mud Festival for more details about the 2020 edition.
The Andong Mask Dance Festival – a cool fall festival in South Korea
Andong, the capital of North Gyeongsang Province in Korea (about a 3-hour bus ride from the capital of Seoul), may not be on many travelers’ bucketlist. But it’s well worth the visit, especially if you are in Korea at the end of September. That’s when the city plays host to the annual Mask Dance festival.
During these 10 days, Andong comes to life with a ton of activities, performances, and festivities taking place at the Mask Dance Park and all around the city.
The best place to live the Mask Dance Festival is at the main site which is the Mask Dance Park. There you can eat local fare, watch shows, partake in games, and even make your own mask. The entrance to the site is free, though there are some paying shows at night. There are also festivities that take place all over the city, and in the Moon Light Bridge Park. The closing ceremony of the Mask Dance Festival takes place in Hahoe Folk Village and is detailed next.
If you want more information about the Andong Mask Dance Festival, you can check out our complete guide here or you can check out the official website here.
Seonyu Julbul Nori in Hahoe Folk Village
Hahoe is a sleepy town in the North Gyeongsang Province of Korea. It’s located about an hour from Andong. It’s a traditional Folk village that is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Like it’s big sister Andong, it’s a small and sleepy village on any regular day. Nothing special ever happens here. Or so you think!
But every year, for one night only, the village comes alive like a blazing Pheonix! Basically, there are flaming balls of fire being hurled from a cliff while locals and visitors alike gather and celebrate in joy. It sounds crazy, but this tradition has been alive for over 450 years.
Seonyu Julbul Nori is the closing ceremony to the Mask Dance Festival that takes place in the nearby city of Andong. Seonyu Julbul Nori takes place in early October. And best of all, this event is free to experience for all.
The Seonyu Julbul Nori is a four-part ceremony that includes a traditional fireworks display over the Nakdong River. While, at the same time the audience is invited to shout, “Nakwha-ya” as villagers light a barrel of twigs on fire and throw the immense ball of flames down from the cliff.
You can find all the information about the Seonyu Julbul Nori in our dedicated post here.
Jinju Lantern Festival – The perfect South Korean festival in October
Collaboration by PreTraveller
The Jinju Lantern Festival is a great Korean festival which we definitely enjoyed! Jinju is a small city located a one-hour train ride west from Busan and is a small city in South Korea. Every October, it’s home to the Jinju Lantern Festival. The Namgang River, bridges and surrounding areas are lit up with an amazing selection of lanterns representing traditional folk arts and landmarks. There are so many lanterns to see, with so many different themes ranging from historical to contemporary.
For a small entry fee, you get to wander around the area and just enjoy the lanterns. We also really enjoyed walking through the lantern tunnel and the tunnel of lights.
There are also optional add-ons you can pay for, including walking over a floating bridge to get up close and personal with the lanterns on the river, as well as purchasing your own small lantern to float down the river. A large selection of food stalls also combine together to make for a very enjoyable night out. While the festival itself runs for about one week, on the first night there are also fireworks to enjoy.
We stayed in Jinju for the night which was a great decision as we were able to just relax and enjoy the festival for as long as we wanted. As Jinju is only a small city be aware that accommodations are limited so ensure you book early.
Although the 2020 dates are not yet confirmed, you can check the official website here.
Busan International Film Festival
2020 will mark the 25th year of the Busan International Film Festival. This year, BIFF will take place from October 7 to 16, 2020.
We were lucky enough to experience this festival, almost by accident, in 2017. During the 10 days of this cultural festival in Korea, the city is taken over by famous celebrities, directors and avid movie-goers. People come in from all parts of the world to check out these masterpieces on screen.
We recommend staying in the vibrant and tourist-friendly Haeundae beach area of Busan. Normally, it’s home to affordable food stalls, karaoke joints, and a vibrant nightlife. But for the 10 days of this festival in October, it is also the home of the BIFF headquarters. It’s also really close to all the movie screenings. Most of the screenings take place at the Busan Cinema Center which is located in Centum City, next to Shinsegae Centum City.
During the Busan International Film festival, there are over 30 screens showing 300 films from over 70 countries. The Busan International film festival is not a competitive festival, so expect guests, directors, and stars to be more relaxed.
Make sure you check out the official website often so you’re up to date on what’s happening during the 2020 edition of the Busan International Film festival. And read our article here to find out more about BIFF.
Seoul Lantern Festival 2020
This was the last festival we got to experience in Korea. It takes place at the heart of Seoul, in the Cheonggye area right on the Cheonggyecheon Stream and at Cheonggye Plaza. These are close to Myeongdong and Insadong.
The Seoul Lantern Festival takes place in the first half of November. The dates for 2020 have yet to be confirmed. You can check out the website here for more details.
The Seoul Lantern Festival is a free festival to visit, making it a very popular festival in Korea and Seoul! Obviously, the best time to visit the Seoul lantern festival is at night, when it’s dark. The lights come on around 5 pm. We headed there after supper, hoping it would be less crowded as families with children might already be gone.
The lanterns are placed on the Cheonggyecheon Stream, and festival-goers walk around admiring the great works of art. There are many different themed areas and lanterns that are grouped together, like Korean fairytales, historic scenes, fantastic stories, and pop culture.
On top of admiring these cool lanterns (you’ll see hundreds of them), you can also make your own floating lantern and set it afloat, or you can join the cultural games and activities that are taking place at Cheonggye Plaza.
Where to stay in South Korea for traditional festivals
While you’re in Korea for these amazing festivals, you can choose to stay in hotels or hostels. In every city, you can find some great options for all budgets. Just make sure you book them ahead of time so that you get a better deal, and that you’re not stuck with no options.
Another great option is to stay with locals through Couchsurfing. We had the chance to Couchsurf in Andong for the Mask Dance Festival and Seonyu Julbul Nori. It was absolutely amazing. We got to experience the festivals by learning about all the hidden activities only locals know about! We highly recommend you try Couchsurfing – it’s such a great way to experience these South Korean festivals in a more authentic way.
How to be eco-friendly during festivals in South Korea
As always, we want to be sure everyone travels in the most eco-friendly way possible! That’s why we want to share these few little tips with you to make your stay in South Korea as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible, especially when you check out these famous festivals.
- Bring reusable water bottles: Tap water in South Korea is safe to drink, although most locals boil it first. This isn’t necessary as it goes through rigorous testing before getting to the tap. If you’re iffy about drinking tap water, make sure you get a Lifestraw Go like us! It makes tap water safe to drink all over the world!
- Eat as local and vegan as you can: This is the easiest way to reduce your environmental footprint. Eat as much local produce and food as possible, and especially, eat all the vegan options you can! It’s a delicious and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Bring your own bags and refuse plastic bags: Like most places, they still offer plastic bags in grocery stores, at the local markets, and at various shops. So bring your own bag and do your little step to save our beautiful planet!
- Walk or bike around: We walked all around the cities in Korea and had a great time getting lost in the streets. Make sure you get a hotel that is centrally located and close to all the main festival areas.
- Use public transportation to get around South Korea: The subways and busses in South Korea are some of the most efficient and cleanest we’ve seen in the world. It’s very easy to get around the city using public transportation. Getting from one city to the next is also quite easy and cheap.
To recap, here are the 7 best festivals in South Korea to check out in 2020 according to travel bloggers
- Cherry blossom festival in Jinhae
- Boryyeong Mud Festival
- Andong Mask Dance Festival
- Seonyu Julbul Nori in Hahoe Folk Village
- Jinju lantern festival
- Busan International Film Festival
- Seoul Lantern Festival
We really hope you get to experience one of these amazing festivals in South Korea. They are all great ways to interact with locals and to see what life is like in Korea.
Have you been to any festivals in Korea? Let us know which one in the comments below!
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.
0 Comments