Jeongeup is well known as the birthplace of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, staged against oppressive corrupt officials. Mt. Naejangsan in Jeongeup is also known as the best place to enjoy autumn leaves. Another worthwhile destination is the city’s National Bullfighting Festival, which features Korea’s unique bullfights. This is a great opportunity to learn about and experience Korea’s unique bullfighting tradition and the local cattle market. Designated as one of Korea’s Ten Best Regional Cultural & Tourism Festivals by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the National Bullfighting Festival has been recognized as a major Korean festival. Festival Overview: In its ninth consecutive year, the National Bullfighting Festival was previously held in May. However, it now is also held in autumn to coincide with the glorious autumn foliage season on Mt. Naejangsan. Unlike Spanish bullfights, in which a matador faces the bull, the Korean version of bullfighting has two bulls fighting against each other. Spectators shout enthusiastically as these powerful animals fight to win by pushing and goring their opponent. In addition to the Nationwide Bulls Championship Title Match, which is the main event, there will also be a program featuring a variety of pet animals and a cattle show as well as the photo exhibits. Festival Highlights: Jeongeup ranch and farm products are renowned for their high quality. Located near the bullfighting arena, a promotional pavilion and market sell Jeongeup’s hanu beef, and visitors can purchase high quality beef at inexpensive prices. Visitors will enjoy the festival’s ambience in the evening too when there will be a campfire and fireworks display.

For sixty days before and after December 22, the sun will rise from the southeast, and a good place to view this beautiful, natural phenomenon is on Korea’s west coast in Maryang-ri. To celebrate this, the Maryangpo Sunrise Festival is held every year. Visitors here will witness a very special miracle of nature, as they will see the sun rising and setting in the same place.

The annual Dong Gang International Photo Festival, which began in 2002, is held in and around Dong Gang Museum of Photography in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do Province. This festival showcases various themes of photo exhibitions to cater to visitors’ diversified tastes and interests. Along with the regular programs, the festival will also offer educational programs. The Dong Gang Photography Workshop will feature quality lectures by some of the most photographers and theorists from home and abroad such as an open lecture from renowned photographers. The workshop will provide exciting opportunities for the general public, as well as professional photographers.

Commemorating the event of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and G-2 (Game-2; two years before PyeongChang 2018 Olympics), Hello PyeongChang Winter Festival will be held from February 4 to 6 around Gangneung Dano Park with various programs including an opening ceremony with performances by K-POP singers, cultural and arts groups, traditional performances themed on Gangwon-do traditional culture, World DJ festival, cultural art performance by EATOF (East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum), and professional arts groups’ performances. Reservation for the festival is available through the official website. Individual foreign guests are also able to make a reservation for the festival. In addition to the pre-welcoming ceremony, PyeongChang Connected Test Events will be held with Jeongseon Alpine Ski Contest, PyeongChang Bogwang Snowboard Contest and Pyeongchang Freestyle Ski Contest. Other festivals in Gwangwon-do including PyeongChang Winter Music Festival, (Feb 25-28, Alpensia and Yongpyong), Daegwallyeong Snow Festival (Jan 15-Feb 10, areas of Hoenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon) and PyeongChang Godeureum Festival (Jan 15-24, Areas of No.2 bridge of Joyanggang River, Jeongseon-eup) will offer more of the winter atmosphere to visitors.

Gwangju Toechon Tomato Festival takes place in Toechon, which has been growing tomatoes since the 1970s. In addition to programs and performances involving tomatoes, the festival will feature the famous Tomato Well-Being Food Tasting & Exhibition.

Namyangju Slow Life International Festival will be held to share daily happiness and create a slow life world in the slow life planet. During the festival, a special food table culture from over the world will be featured. Immerse in a world of health, happiness, joy and pleasure at Namyangju-si as the festival will be held for 10 consecutive days.

This festival celebrates the herbs of Jirisan Mountain, which are commonly known to have great medicinal properties, making this the perfect event for visitors eager to improve their health through natural remedies.At this festival, visitors will be exposed to a wide variety of Korea’s medicinal herbs and medical traditions. Along with many other exciting events, you will even be able to sample traditional Oriental medicinal food made from herbs. Visitors can sample herbs for free, and can take home their favorite herb or remedy at low cost. Some herbs can even be grown at home!

The Dongang ferry was once a popular mode of transportation along the Hangang River. While it was gradually outdated with the growth of highways and mass transportation, the ferry was a useful mode of transportation and the livelihood of people living upstream of the Hangang River. The festival commemorates and reproduces the lives of these people and their local culture. With the beautiful Donggang River as a backdrop, the event offers a wide array of performances, cultural events (honoring the Joseon poet Kim Sat-gat), and outdoor activities (rafting, hang-gliding, paragliding, etc). The festival hosts many of the fun activities visitors to Yeongwol County can enjoy.

The Dangjin Waemok Village Sunrise Festival takes place in Waemok Village located in Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do. The place itself is regarded as one of the top three sunrise viewing spots in Korea. Around 100,000 people visit the festival every year to see the simple and poetic sunrise. Starting in the afternoon of December 31, various sunrise events will begin, including tourist singing contests, celebrity guest performances, a New Year’s countdown, and burning daljip (brushwood) to make a wish. When the new year begins, visitors can take in the sunrise and warm up with some tteokguk (sliced rice cake soup) at the end of the festival.

The Sunchang Fermented Sauce Festival is held every fall at Sunchang, a city of health and longevity. Sunchang hot pepper sauce, which used to be presented to the royal family in the Joseon Dynasty, is believed to have many health benefits, such as being beneficial in preventing cancer and obesity. As people have gotten more interested in their health and well-being, hot sauce has become an even greater part of the Korean diet.The venue of the festival is Hot Sauce Folk Village, a mecca of Sunchang Hot Sauce. There are a range of programs, including celebrity performances, percussion performances, madangnori, and making traditional hot sauce. Other events include Sunchang Specialty Exhibition (e.g. vegetables fermented in hot sauce, bokbunja liquor), Children’s Painting Contest, and photo exhibits. The festival’s crowning glory is the Sunchang traditional hot sauce competition, a must-see event.