Guidebook to Korea’s Summer Festivals - July

Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival

blossoms at Gungnamji Pond (Credit: Buyeo-gun Office & Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival Organizing Committee)

Period: July 7-16

Venue: Area of Seodong Park and Gungnamji Pond in Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

Description: The Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is held at Gungnamji, the first man-made pond in the nation. The most popular event at the festival is the performance showcasing the love story between Prince Seodong (King Muwang’s childhood name) and Princess Seonhwa. This year’s festival will feature LED illuminations and sculptures for beautiful photos. Other programs include lotus face-painting, drinking lotus tea, making lotus soap, and a variety of other permanent experiential events for all to enjoy

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival

International Fantastic Film Festival opening ceremony (Credit: Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Promotion Committee)

Period: July 13-23

Venue: Bucheon City Hall, CGV Bucheon, CGV Bucheon Station, etc.

Description: Enjoy nights full of movies and free-style conversations with directors at this unique film festival. Bucheon International Film Festival screens movies from all over the world and from a variety of genres, including horror, mystery, thriller, and sci-fi.

Boryeong Mud Festival

Boryeong Mud Festival mud massage (Credit: Boryeong Mud Festival Promotion Committee)

Period: July 21-30

Venue: Daecheon Beach Mud Square in Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Description: At the Boryeong Mud Festival, visitors jump in a huge pool of mud for more than just fun, as Boryeong mud is well-known for its excellent quality and efficacy. This fun, action-packed festival is popular among local and international visitors because it offers various programs such as the mud massage pack, colored-mud body painting, and mud soap-making.

Pohang International Fireworks Festival

Fireworks show at the Pohang International Fireworks Festival (Credit: Pohang Culture Foundation)

Period: July 26-30

Venue: Hyeongsangang Sports Park, Yeongildae Northern Beach and other areas of Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Description: The Pohang International Fireworks Festival offers fantastic views of the night ocean as it is lit up by fireworks made by representative teams from different countries during the international fireworks contest. Among the many festival activities and events, festival highlights include the light parade, live beach concert, and light art contest.

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

Water gun fight at the Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival (Credit: Jangheung-gun Office)

Period: July 28 – August 3

Venue: Areas of Tamjingang River and Cypress Forest Woodland in Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do

Description: This unique festival has its foundations in the waters of the Tamjingang River and Jangheung Multipurpose Dam in Jangheung. The festival teaches the value of water for the environment, humans, and energy in many ways through exhibits, films, and hands-on programs. Exciting summer water programs such as a natural medicinal herb bath, water slides, water cycling, and bare-handed fishing are popular among visitors.

Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival

Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival performance (Credit: CJ E&M)

Period: July 28-30

Venue: Jisan Resort

Description: Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival features top international artists from a variety of musical genres, including rock, EDM, hip-hop, and electronic. Some artists for this year’s festival include Sigur Ros, Major Lazer, and Gallant. Enjoy great music within the pure scenery of Jisan Resort.

Bonghwa Eun-Uh (Sweet Fish) Festival

Trick art photo zone at Bonghwa Eun-uh Festival (Credit: Bonghwa-gun Office)

Period: July 29 – August 5

Venue: Areas of Naeseongcheon Stream and Sports Park in Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Description: This festival is held at Naeseongcheon Stream in Bonghwa-gun. The main programs are catching sweet fish with a net or with just one’s bare hands, and sweet fish-related exhibits. Sweet fish are small freshwater fish with a light watermelon smell.

Gangjin Celadon Festival

Gangjin Celadon Festival event (Credit: Gangjin-gun Office)

Period: July 29 – August 4

Venue: Area of Gangjin Goryeo Celadon Kiln Site in Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do

Description: This festival is held in Gangjin, the largest production site of celadon in Korea from the 8th to the 14th century. Visitors can not only gain a deeper appreciation of Korean celadon’s impact on the global art community, but also have a chance to make their own pottery, an activity that is popular among local and international visitors alike.

 Copyright from:  KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION