Held for the first time in 1989, the Chuncheon Puppet Festival is celebrating its 27th anniversary this year. Aside from the puppet performances, there will also be plenty of side events to entertain children and adults alike.

Jeju Haenyeo Festival aims to celebrate and internationally promote Jeju Island's unique heanyeo culture. As the festival takes place at the Haenyeo Museum, visitors will be able to learn all about haenyeo at a glance. Creative stage performances and hands-on activities revolve around the festival's main theme, "Mother's sumbisori, in the hearts of people all over the world." Presentations of traditional and modern day haenyeo are well blended in an effort for the festival to grow and become an internationally celebrated festival.

Tamnaguk is the ancient name for Jeju Island, once a small country, and the term Ipchun means the first day of spring. The coming of spring was also the beginning of the farming season, and Tamnaguk Ipchun Gut Nori is the customary gut (exorcism) ritual performed by the people of Jeju to pray for a bountiful harvest. In modern times, this event is an authentic reenactment of the many traditional gut rituals and is also held to welcome the coming of spring. Festival Overview: The festival is held for two days with an opening ceremony in the evening, followed by the main event on Ipchun day. The opening ceremony features a procession by Jeju citizens dressed in traditional clothing followed by lively music and traditional instruments made up of gongs and drums. On the second day (the first day of spring), the festival will proceed to downtown Jeju, stopping here and there to perform gut rituals. Generally a gut ritual expresses ancient beliefs; and specifically, the ipchun gut is meant to ensure a bountiful harvest at the end of the agricultural season. The ritual performers will wear tal (Korean traditional mask). A spring-related photo exhibition and drawing contest will also be held during the festival, and photos will be exhibited. Hands-on programs include making rice cakes in the traditional way from scratch to finish, and creating tal masks. Visitors can also experience traditional folk games like jegi chagi (shuttlecock) and paengi chigi (top spinning). Festival Highlights: As the festival name indicates, the highlight of the event is the gut performance. This ritual differs from those in other regions as it is performed according to local traditions with costumes unique to Jeju Island. Visitors will also enjoy walking with the farmers’ band and even “banging heads” the way band members do. For a good view of the ritual, arrive early to get a front-row seat just in front of the altar.

Muan is the largest habitat of the White Lotus flower in Asia, spanning 330,000m2 in size. While most lotus flowers are pink, the lotus flowers in Muan are snow white, which is very rare. During the Muan White Lotus Festival festival, visitors can enjoy a landscape filled with white lotus flowers and lotus-themed activities. Festival Guide: The festival starts with a celebration parade. Visitors can enjoy exhibits about lotus flowers and the history of lotus medicine, as well as a photo exhibit and hands-on programs. Activities include making handcrafts with the seeds of lotus flowers, natural dyeing using lotus flowers, making lotus soup, cooking lotus-wrapped rice and more. Different kinds of lotus can be observed at the natural learning garden of water plants, which is on the way to the venue. Festival Hightlights: The highlight of the Muan White Lotus Festival is a boat ride where you can get a nice view of the lotus flowers. Exploring the lotus road on the water is like a jungle adventure. Visitors also can try traditional dishes of Muan and special fragrant foods made from lotus, such as lotus ice cream, lotus shakes, lotus sandwiches, lotus noodles, and lotus-wrapped rice.

Muchangpo Mystic Sea Road Shrimp and Gizzard Shad Festival takes place at Muchangpohang Port & Muchangpo Beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do. You may enjoy diverse experience programs enclosed net fish farm fishing, hand fishing and shrimp fishing, and catching razor shell clams. Visitors may also participate in Mystic Sea Road walking.      

The Moyang Fortress was built by the region’s citizens in order to block the 1453 invasion of Japanese forces. It is also called the 'Gochang Eupseong'. The circumference of the fortress is measured at 1,684m and it has a x_height of 4~6m with three main gates and various facilities for soldiers. Parts have been burned down and are currently undergoing restoration. The main event of the Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival is the ‘Dapseongdori’, an event where you carry rock on top of your head and round the fortress three times. This ceremony is attended by all the region’s citizens as it is said to cure all illnesses, grant you a long and healthy life, and allow you into Heaven when you die. Aside from the Dapseongdori event, the festival includes a Joseon Dynasty military ceremony and there are many other sights to see.

The annual Suwon Theatre Festival features diverse shows showcasing contemporary theater and events including an exhibition, vocal performances and citizen-led programs. The festival offers participants the opportunity to step into a historic space in the city of Suwon. The venue also features creative decorations using materials from recycled vehicles, tires and fabric. Individuals and families will be able to enjoy the range of events at the festival, located at a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

Bonghwa’s song-i mushrooms (pine mushroom) are regarded as a special delicacy, they grow only on the very best types of pine trees called ‘Chunyangmok Pine Trees’. They can be stored for long periods of time. At the Bonghwa Pine Mushroom festival, visitors will be able to observe the mushrooms in their natural habitat, and get the chance to harvest them. They will also be able to sample various alcohols and specialty dishes made from the delicious pine mushroom.

Visitors are welcome to participate in various winter activities such as ice fishing, sledding, traditional winter games, barehanded fishing, and more! Gwanghyewon Reservoir, the venue of Anseong Ice Fishing Festival, is one of the largest reservoirs of Anseong-si known for its first class water quality that runs down from Charyeon Mountain Range.

The Giva Week (also known as Ginkgo Virus Alley Week) is to be held for the 2nd time, following last year's success. The event was originally organized and started up by the business owners of shops in the streets of the Sinsadong garosu-gil, to promote sales and make the place an attractive tourist spot. The aim is to develop hidden attractions that have recently been shaded by many franchised stores as well as make it an ideal place to shop, eat, and sight-see, as well as enjoy street performances. Many talented aritsts and shop owners will gather to hold various events and program, with amazing discounts and free gifts to be awarded. With the help of Solon Company, the Korea Tourism Organization, Visit Korea Year Committee, Tripvi Ltd., and regional offices, the event expects to draw in more attention and visitors than the previous year. Locations for events are various, being spread throughout the Sinsadong garosu-gil area, where the streets are lined in many Gingko trees. Visiting many of the charmingly decorated coffee shops, designer stores, boutique-like galleries and much more along Garosu-gil is a romantic way to enjoy the beauiful autumn foliage in Korea.