A multitude of festivals are held amid the bustling city of Busan in October. One of these is the Busan One Asia Festival, a music festival showcasing not only Hallyu stars, but also Asian culture as a whole. The festival is not just limited to k-pop, but features artists and styles of all genres and aims to be the new face of Hallyu festivals.

Arts Council Korea is to host 2016 ARKO Contemporary Orchestra Music Festival for Yangak (Western music) on January 26, 2016 at 20:00 at Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center, lead by Choi Suyeol and played by Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra. ARKO Contemporary Orchestra Music Festival (a.k.a. Achangje) tries to find up-to-date art pieces reflecting Korean composer’s innovative creativity and plays a big role in creative Korean music. First performed through Achangje, the performances are again performed at other locations nationally and internationally, including European countries.These music pieces are sure to be cherished for many years by audiences. This performance will be operated based on pre-reservation policy so register for tickets at music@arko.or.kr with a name, contact information and the desired number of tickets.

Yeongdong, the hometown of Joseon Dynasty’s traditional music virtuoso, Park Yeon, is regarded as the Mecca of Korean traditional music. Every year, the Korean traditional music festival named after Park’s pen name, Nangye, is held in the area. In addition to featuring various exhibitions and experience programs centered on Korean traditional music, the Yeongdong Nangye Traditional Music Festival offers cultural arts and foods in conjunction with the Yeongdong Wine Festival. Visitors can enjoy various program including royal ancestral rites, parade, contest for reciting a sijo, and other hands-on program through traditional music.

At Seoul Drum Festival, professional and amateur percussionists from around the world gather to stage exciting performances featuring different types of percussion instrument as used in diverse genres of music.

The region of Hansan-myeon is famous for producing ramie, one of the world’s oldest fabric crops. The Hansan Ramie Fabric Cultural Festival celebrates the high quality, luxury clothing that is produced from ramie fabric and which receives wide acclaim. Many people journey to this festival to see the beautiful clothes on display. One of the main events is a fashion show, and visitors will also have the opportunity to try on some of the clothes and even try out the fabric weaving process. The ramie crop is also used in making food, and at the festival visitors can try rice cakes, ice cream, tea and other refreshments all made from ramie. A must visit festival for all shopping and food aficionados.

Mokpo Port Festival will be held in Mokpohang Port and Samhakdo Island areas to offer various performance and hands-on program. This festival was chosen as one of Up-and-Coming Festivals by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consecutive four years and tries to show features of ocean city and local characteristics for visitors to enjoy its romantic ambience.

Namsangol Hanok Village, located in Jung-gu, Seoul, holds the Five Nobleman’s Seollal Feast to greet the New Year. Various events to enjoy the New Year have been prepared.

As the first festival in Korea to celebrate films with the theme of music, Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) aims to expand the new film genre and contribute to diversification of film festivals. The main program shows music-themed films and documentaries from around the world, while the music program stages multiple concerts featuring various popular and alternative musicians. In addition, up to 30 aspiring film music directors are accepted into the Jecheon International Music & Film Academy for a chance to learn film music composition and production from expert film music directors. Moreover, a wide array of local dining, sightseeing and accommodation are available nearby for an enhanced JIMFF experience.

Yeoju has been producing ceramics ever since the early Goryeo period (AD 918-1392), and through the production of high-quality Goryeongto (Kaolin) and Baekto (white clay), it played an integral role in the development of the early ceramic industry. Yeoju laid the foundations for becoming a major ceramic city by hosting the World Ceramics Expo in 2001. And since hosting the World Ceramics Biennale in 2003 and 2005, it is now internationally recognized as a world center for ceramics.Started in May 1990, the Yeoju Ceramic Festival is held every year to promote the excellence of its ceramics both nationwide and abroad. As the first and best ceramic festival in Korea, the festival exhibits unique, high quality ceramic artwork and products. At the festival, you can see works of art by ceramics masters and buy a variety of ceramic products at discounted prices.

Gwangju Design Biennale is hosting with the theme of ‘Design x Shin Myeong’ for 30 consecutive days. This year’s festival aims to find new designs for the future and suggest ways to interpret futuristic designs. Visitors will be able to learn how the design changes the daily life through various exhibitions.