Jeollabuk-do(Jeonju-si)

Daesaseup originated from Pansori music that first appeared around the time of King Yeongjo’s reign (Joseon Dynasty) and has been passed down until today. The Jeonju Daesaseup Festival goes back to the time when outstanding performers from around the nation were invited for an all-night song festival on the eve of the winter solstice. This later developed into a competition, and today, gifted singers from around the nation gather to compete. Event Programs: The Daesaseup Festival, one of the four major cultural festivals of Jeonju, has served to discover new, talented singers, whose artistry has greatly contributed to promoting Korean folk culture overseas. This is a rare opportunity to experience all types of traditional Korean culture. The festival categories include Pansori master, Pansori general, farmer’s music, dance, musical instruments, three-line poetry, folk songs, Gayageum music, and archery. Visit this festival devoted to Korean folk music, which is soothing for the heart and spirit. Major Highlights: Each category has its own unique beauty and artistic value. For example, just listening to the farmer’s music is exhilarating. On the last day of the festival, there is a special performance by the winners in each category, so don’t miss it!


Chungcheongbuk-do(Eumseong-gun)

Pumba was the word repeated in the songs of street singers, especially when Korea was once impoverished. They strolled around marketplaces or villages seeking food, money, or anything they could get. Pumba doesn’t have a specific meaning but is a language mechanism for keeping a rhythm. These days, the word pumba generally refers to gakseori. These performers do not beg for food or money, but do sing at events or festivals. The Pumba Festival is held in Eumseong every year. Programs offer a visit to the old days of poverty and a glimpse of the performances and lifestyles of various gakseoris. The festival participants are top performing gakseoris who entertain at marketplaces, festivals, or theaters around the nation. No wonder the festival is filled with energetic and exciting performances as well as endless laughter from the audience.


Jeju-do(Seogwipo-si) , Former Jeju

The Jeju Hueree Maehwa Festival takes place at the Hueree Natural Park (휴애리 자연생활공원) from late February to early March every year. Maehwa is the Korean word for apricot flowers, and the flowers signal the changing of the season. The blossoming of the Maehwa flowers is celebrated at the earliest time in Korea through this festival. The festival also features various fun activities such as the apricot flower photo contest, black pig show and goose show.


Chungcheongnam-do(Nonsan-si)

Gyebaek (? - 660) was a general in the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje. This historic site is not far from Hwangsanbeol, the last battlefield of General Gyebaek who fell defending Baekje at the end of its days. Allied troops from Silla and Tang attacked Tanhyeon and Baekgang, strategic sites held by Baekje, in 660 (the 20th year of King Uija’s reign). General Gyebaek and his 5,000 soldiers fought against General Kim Yu-sin and his 50,000 soldiers. General Gyebaek successfully defeated the allied troops four times, but was ultimately unable to overcome the insurmountable numbers brought to bear by his foe. The Baekje army was finally defeated, and the last general of Baekje, Gyebaek, died in the battle.


Jeollanam-do(Yeosu-si)

The Yeosu Passenger Terminal connects Yeosu Port in Gyo-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do with nearby islands. The terminal opened on December 21, 1982 and underwent renovation in May 2007. The terminal can accommodate up to a thousand people in the waiting area and 87 cars in the parking lot.


Jeollanam-do(Damyang-gun)

Damyang, located in Jeollanam-do, is not only famous for its bamboo trees, but is also for its tteokgalbi, or grilled short rib patties. Tteokgalbibonga, known for its signature tteokgalbi, has become quite famous in the area. With its exquisite resemblance to injeolmi (rice cakes coated with powdered soybeans) and the way it melts in your mouth, it’s no wonder Tteokgalbibonga attracts guests from as far as Japan. Tteokgalbi gets its name from its resemblance to rice cakes, or tteok. In addition to its texture, its savory marinade brings out the meaty flavor of tteokgalbi. Aside from their main dish, hanu (Korean beef) tteokgalbi, they also have dwaejigalbi, bulgogi, and galbi tang available, served with regular side dishes of a Korean set menu, even including a dessert. Tteokgalbibonga is often crowded with customers that you’ll likely have to wait in line if you visit for during the evening.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Miryang-si)


Jeollanam-do(Gurye-gun)

Gurye is the first famous national park in Jirisan Mountain and is home to clean water and spacious fields near Seomjingang River. The main products of this area include a variety of wild herbs, vegetables, sansuyu (cornus fruit) and plums from Jirisan Mountain and Baegunsan Mountain. Houses with cornus fruit trees are easily found in the district of Sandong-myeon, Gurye-gun and the whole village gets dyed yellow in the spring and red in the fall. The amount of sansuyu from the area accounts for nearly half Korea’s total. Also, chestnuts are common in Gurye Market as a complex of chestnut tree takes up 1,400 ㏊ of the land.


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

Nestled in the high altitudes within the outskirts of Baekdudaegan Mountain Range's Hwangbyeongsan Mountain, Daegwallyeong Snow Town is a small farm village that pioneered Korea's high-land agriculture and is well-recognized for its ranches. It is also the birthplace of Korea's ski facilities and beholds the pride of cultural value of sports and tradition as the village's Pyeongchang Hwangbyeongsan Mountain Hunting Tradition was designated as the 19th Intangible Cultural Heritage. Eighty-percent of village land consists of forests and in year 2008, Daegwallyeong Snow Town opened a Mountain Village Ecology Center under the supervision of Korea Forest Service and Pyeongchang-gun County. Variety of experience programs are available throughout the year according to seasons such as picking dog-tooth violets, gomchwis, and cirsiums in spring, ranger training experience and cooking rice with cirsium in summer, riding on a donkey and creating individual plant guidebooks in fall, and enjoying winter sledding and other winter activities in winter. Other activities including horseback riding, ATV, peformances are also available.