Gyeongsangnam-do(Hapcheon-gun)

The Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival is held every year in May at Hwangmaesan County Park. The festival started in 1997 as an effort by local and overseas residents to preserve the azalea fields through hosting local cultural events. In 2012, the mountain was also included in CNN Travel's list of "50 Beautiful Places to Visit in Korea." Hwangmaesan is the filming site of several Korean movies such as Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War (태극기휘날리며), Welcome to Dongmakgol (웰컴투 동막골), A Story Of Bangja (방자전), Queen Seok Duk (선덕여왕), Horse Doctor (마의), and Bridal Mask (각시탈).


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

In the past, kimjang(kimchi-making) day was a day for sharing love, a day for festivals and feasting. Designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, kimjang has gone global and kimchi has become a classic, healthy food much loved by people around the world. With the first Seoul Kimchi Festival in 2014, the much forgotten Korean sharing spirit comes alive and kimjang was created into a cultural festival that has developed into a leading global sharing festival in Seoul. Celebrating the theme ‘Happy sharing, Kimjang day,’  the 4th Seoul Kimchi Festival will offer visitors opportunities to touch, feel and taste the unique Korean kimjang culture through various programs  such as Making&Sharing Kimchi, where over 5,000 people get together to  make kimchi for the underprivileged, Seoul Kimjanggan, where participants  get to try their hands at making kimchi for our families as well  the Kimchi Market and Kimchi Imagination Playground etc.  From November 3rd (Fri) to 5th (Sun), 2017, Kimjang Day! A festival with an authentic kimjang theme to create an enjoyable kimjang culture rich in traditional value. We hope that everyone will have a magical time at Seoul Kimchi Festival. Event name : The 4th Seoul Kimchi Festival Date and Time : November 3rd (Fri) ~ 5th (Sun), 2017 Venue : Seoul Plaza, Mugyo-ro Host : Seoul Metropolitan City Organizers : Seoul Metropolitan City, Kimchi Association of Korea, MIRAL Welfare Foundation  


Seoul(Mapo-gu)

The World Cup Park was established on Nanjido, whose name means the island of "abundant orchids and gromwells." The island was once a wonderful ecosystem where flowers flourished season in and season out, and migrant birds came to visit every year.Unfortunately, Nanjido was used as a landfill site between 1978 and 1993 and the once beautiful ecosystem became a smelly place full of trash and sludge. However, the Landfill Recovery Project began in 1996, once again restoring life to the barren wasteland. Plants and animals returned to the area and it was christened the World Cup Park in May 2002. Each of the five divisions of the World Cup Park (Pyounghwa Park, Haneul Park, Noeul Park, Nanjicheon Park, and Nanji Hangang Park) represents an aspect of the radical transformation of Nanjido back into an ecological haven.Haneul Park (Sky Park) is full of lush Eulalia and home to the Seoul Eulalia Festival, held every year in October when the grass is in bloom. Although the park is open to visitors during the daytime, the park is usually closed at night to reduce the negative effects of visitors on the native plants and animals. During the festival, however, the park remains open until 10 p.m. and the entire grounds are aglow with light. Visitors not only get a beautiful view of the city lights and Hangang River, but can also enjoy the variety of events and performances offered during the festival period.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard-changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of the Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day. Special Programs: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day (11:00 / 14:00 / 15:30) in front of Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace. As each ceremony follows the same procedure and lasts for thirty minutes, visitors can choose whichever time is most convenient. The ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders. Major Highlights: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. Be sure to bring a camera. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. While you cannot take pictures with the guards during the changing of guards, you can take a background picture of the guards and palace. You can also take photographs with the gatekeepers after the ceremony is over. Visit the palace and enjoy the beauty of Korean palaces following the ceremony.


Busan(Haeundae-gu) , Haeundae

Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in Korea. Beginning in 1996 as the first international film festival in Korea, it is now a major global event.Held in Haeundae and Nampo-dong, Busan, the festival presents over 300 films from 70 countries. The main program themes include: A Window on Asian Cinema, New Currents, Korean Cinema Today, Korean Cinema Retrospective, World Cinema, Wide Angle, Open Cinema, and Special Programs in Focus.The festival also boasts a wide array of special events, outdoor performances and participatory programs. Tickets for opening and closing films can only be purchased online. 20% of seats for regular films (including films screened in theaters or outdoor venues) will be available for sale at on-site ticket booths. Main festival venues include Busan Cinema Center, CGV Centum City, Lotte Cinema Centum City, Megabox Haeundae and Community Media Center Busan. 


Gyeongsangnam-do(Hadong-gun)

When April arrives, the Hwagae region looks as if it is carpeted in snow. In fact, it is the beautiful white flowers of the regions’ numerous cherry blossom trees that transform the landscape into a soft downy wonderland. One of the most popular attractions of the festival is ‘The 10ri Cherry Blossom Road’ (ri is the traditional Korean measurement unit, and 10ri equals approximately 4km). It is also known as ‘marriage road’, as it is said that if lovers walk down this road while holding hands, they will get married and stay happily together forever. Apart from the stunning beauty of the cherry blossoms, there is also an exciting series of seasonal programs and cultural events for guests to enjoy. Nearby attractions include the historic Hwagae Market and numerous restaurants serving the province’s traditional cuisines such as Euneo-hoe (sliced raw sweetfish) and Chamge-tang (king crab broth). * The event date is subject to change due to temperature change. ​


Gyeonggi-do(Gapyeong-gun) , Namyangju

Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival offers various hands-on programs and events including ice and snow sledding, bumper cars on ice, two-seated bikes, and varied performances for an enjoyable winter festival.※ Festival period is subject to change depending on ice condition.Please check the official website or call the organizing party for further announcement.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

The Gangneung Danoje Festival was designated a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005 and is Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 13 in Korea in 1967. The festival serves to preserve the folk culture of the Joseon Dynasty and has been a popular festival since 1975.Danoje Festival includes rituals such as the Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangje (a tribute to Monk Beomil, believed to protect Gangneung) and Yeongsinje (a deity greeting ritual). Folk performances, ssireum wrestling, swing riding, and tug-of-war competitions follow these rituals. During the Danoje Festival, visitors are also invited to participate in various events: watching a traditional wedding ceremony, making surichui rice cake, washing one's hair in iris-infused water, and drinking alcoholic beverages offered to the gods. There are also regional dialect contests and other cultural programs.


Jeollabuk-do(Gochang-gun)

This festival is held every year in April amongst the beautiful green barley fields of the Gochang-gun region. The Gochang Green Barley Field Festival is the region’s most popular festival and was visited by over 550,000 tourists in 2008. The festival celebrates the region’s plentiful 'barley', and visitors can take part in activities such as making flutes out of barley and searching for hidden treasures in the barley fields. A visit to the festival is also a good opportunity to see Seonunsan Provincial Park and Gochangeupseong Fortress, as well as sampling the pungcheon jangeo (eel), which is a regional delicacy.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

In ancient times, the royal guards of Joseon Dynasty performed the given task by guarding the Gwanghwamun Gate, the entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace where the king ruled the country. Since 1469, the ceremony has taken place and its record has been consulted for the present reenactment ceremony. The reenactment of the original ceremony began from 1996. The gate guardsmen serve their sentry, perform the changing of the guards, and hold a parade. The guards' uniforms, weapons, and accessories as well as their strict ceremonial procedures catch the eyes of passersby, especially foreign tourists, when guardsmen perform the changing of guards in traditional costumes at the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in downtown Seoul. Since it is hard to experience traditional events in such a big city like Seoul, citizens and tourist really enjoy and love it. It takes place every day except Tuesday. Major Highlights: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene in Korea. Be sure to bring a camera to take lots of pictures. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a real pleasure to see. If you have some spare time to kill, make sure to visit the palace and enjoy the beauty of Korean palaces following the ceremony.