Gangwon-do(Chuncheon-si)

As the master country of Taekwondo, Chuncheon Open International Taekwondo Championships provide the opportunity for Taekwondo artists from all over the world to demonstrate their Taekwondo skills. The championships are held every other year.Description: The championships are categorized into three divisions: Gyeorugi, Gyeongyeon, and Color Belts Gyeorugi. The Gyeorugi Division has the most contestants, and is sectioned into male/female, junior/senior, and children. The Color Belts Gyeorugi Division is open to only foreign contestants over the age of 14 years.The Gyeongyeon Division includes Sonnal Gyeokpa which uses only a single hand-surface, the Jumeok which uses the fists, and the Jonghap Gyeokpa. Also in the Gyeongyeon Division are the Creative Pumsae, which uses the basic elements of Taekwondo, Taekwondo Gymnastics and Hosinsul.Other related events also scheduled are the Taekwondo Demonstration, Sports Dance, Street Demonstrations, and more.Championships Highlights: The festival is an international festival with its an overriding Taekwondo theme, now an official Olympic Sport and Korea’s native martial arts. The festival consists of welcoming, opening and closing ceremonies, and of course the championships themselves. The most attractive feature about this festival is that Taekwondo fans can see the world’s leading Taekwondo artists up-close.The host city of Chuncheon is also surrounded by many major tourist attractions such as Namiseom Island and Cheongpyeongsa Temple, which visitors can enjoy along with the festival.


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival is held in the Hoenggye-ri area, which is located in Daegwanryeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do. The festival starts with a fireworks display, followed by various programs such as a singing contest, an international naked marathon contest, a singing contest for multicultural families, a climbing competition, snow art contests, a snow literature event, etc. *Note: The detailed programs may differ each year, and festival period is subject to change depending on ice conditions (Opens only when the ice is completely frozen. Please refer to the official website or make a phone-inquiry before visiting).        


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

The Great Mountains International Music Festival & School (GMMFS) is operated by the government of Gangwon Province. Premier musical performances from some of today's most celebrated artists are held during the festival period, while the school operates all year round, providing highly-respected, intensive training for the next generation of classical musicians. Located in South Korea's spectacular Great Mountain region, renowned for its beautiful terrain, the festival brings together an impressive array of internationally recognized artists and faculty. The Great Mountains International Music Festival & School offers something for every music lover. Come and hear internationally acclaimed artists, observe how revered educators engage convey lessons in music and life, and discover the bright new talents of the future—all in the pristine mountain region of Gangwon Province!


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This New Year from December 31 to January 1, Gangneung City will hold its annual ‘Sunrise Event’. As well as visiting the area’s attractions such as Gyeongpodae town, visitors will be able to welcome in the New Year by watching a beautiful sunrise. The ‘Sunrise Event’ will include the countdown to the New Year, fireworks, and various enjoyable cultural events.


Gangwon-do(Goseong-gun)

Every June, the areas around Eocheon-ri in Goseong-gun are covered with the purple lavender fields. During this season, many local and international visitors attend the annual Goseong Lavender Festival. This year, the festival will have a variety of programs, from exhibitions to performances.Some of these include a lavender photo exhibit and a photo contest at the farm and the village, as well as a photo gallery and a classical music concert, to name a few. The lucky draw event is something that should not be missed.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival takes place at the center of Gyeongpodae Pavilion, the 6th regional tangible cultural treasure of Korea, when cherry blossoms on trees on the 4.3㎞ path around Gyeongpoho Lake are in full bloom. During the festival, various cultural events and flower exhibitions are held against the backdrop of the beautiful cherry blossom covered Gyeongpodae. 


Gangwon-do(Chuncheon-si)

The 2012 Chuncheon Dakgalbi (Spicy Chicken Ribs) & Makguksu (Buckwheat Noodles) Festival is scheduled to be held this year from August 23rd to 28th. Visitors can enjoy Chuncheon-style buckwheat noodles and spicy chicken ribs, two representative dishes of the region. Special events include the Chuncheon Local Cuisine Cooking Contest and free sampling every afternoon of the area’s famous dishes.


Gangwon-do(Yangyang-gun)

Namdaecheon Stream begins in the Mt. Odaesan Buyeon-dong Valley, gaining size and strength as it nears Eoseongjeolli in Hyeonbuk-myeon before reaching the East Sea. Salmon that were spawned in Namdaecheon Stream swim to the East Sea to grow for three to five years in the Bering Sea before returning to Namdaecheon Stream between late October and November.The Salmon Festival in Yangyang began as a salmon-fishing contest in mid November 1996, and has been held as Yangyang-gun’s festival since 1997. Every year, it offers a variety of salmon-related events and attracts a large crowd of people eager to fish for salmon.Festival Program: Immediately following official events such as Yongwangje (a ritual praying for a good catch) Bonghaeng and the opening ceremony, fun-packed programs await visitors. These include catching a salmon/trout with the bare hands, and salmon-cooking exhibits. The bare-hand salmon-catching continues to draw more and more participants every year, and is particularly popular with families, as all members can enjoy fun moments together.For this event, the office of Yangyang-gun prepares a total of about 3,000 salmon, some supplied by the Yangyang Naesumyeon Research Center and others netted by professional fishers. The salmon are then released in part of the stream about 30 centimeters deep, which is blocked by a net on either end. The fish caught by participants can either be cooked on-site or cut and cleaned to take home.Festival Highlights: Most salmon are over 40 centimeters long and are great fun to catch. The food court also offers a variety of salmon dishes to tempt visitors' appetites. The Namdaecheon Stream runs near the famous Mt. Seoraksan, which is great for hiking and for viewing the changing colors of the foliage in late fall. 


Gangwon-do(Jeongseon-gun)

This festival takes the theme of ‘Jeongseon Arirang’, a variation of the Korean folk song ‘Arirang’, which was developed in the Jeongseon region. The Jeongseon Arirang Festival was started to preserve the ‘Jeongseon Arirang’, an intangible cultural asset, and to pass along its culture to following generations.One of the festival’s main events is a performance of the famous ‘Arirang’ folk song, and there are many other events and programs. In addition, there is a folk market called the ‘Jeongseon 5 Day Market’, which opens every five days, where visitors can experience the lively bustling atmosphere of a Korean folk market and purchase agricultural produce at low prices.Nearby famous tourist destinations include the rail bikes, Gangwon Land, and more.


Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)

Held in Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, the annual Korea Music Festival is one of Korea's leading music festivals. First began in 2004, the festival continues to feature the latest in Korean music with a variety of performances of different genres.