Once a year at Jindo Island in Jeollanam-do, the sea mysteriously parts and visitors can walk through the sea from the main island to a smaller nearby island. This phenomenon is due to the difference between high and low tides, creating a 2.8-kilometer-long road measuring 40 meters in x_width.The Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival takes place at the same time as this phenomenon. Visitors can enjoy walking along the sea road, gathering abalone and various other fun activities that make up the festival program. The spectacular sight of the waves parting is widely known and about half a million visitors flock from all over the world just to witness this amazing event.
International Modern Dance Festival, abbreviated to MODAFE, commemorates all artists and the public community as our society’s “little hero.” The festival aims to encourage all who work hard and live on day by day, repressed by social circumstances and any unexpected hardships that may befall in the ever-changing and evolving world by presenting artistic dance performances and support to artists’ projects.
This year, MODAFE performances will be streamed live online in accordance with the COVID-19 social distancing measures. Instead of the annual MOS event usually held at Marronnier Park, the festival invites viewers to participate in an online event via social media.
Pumba was the word repeated in the songs of street singers, especially when Korea was once impoverished. They strolled around marketplaces or villages seeking food, money, or anything they could get. Pumba doesn’t have a specific meaning but is a language mechanism for keeping a rhythm. These days, the word pumba generally refers to gakseori. These performers do not beg for food or money, but do sing at events or festivals.
The Pumba Festival is held in Eumseong every year. Programs offer a visit to the old days of poverty and a glimpse of the performances and lifestyles of various gakseoris. The festival participants are top performing gakseoris who entertain at marketplaces, festivals, or theaters around the nation. No wonder the festival is filled with energetic and exciting performances as well as endless laughter from the audience.
The Muju Firefly Festival takes place in the pure environment of Muju, a natural habitat for fireflies and the marsh snails the fireflies feed on. The festival offers many attractions and activities but the highlight of the festival starts after 8:00 pm when the fireflies begin to light up the night sky.
NANTA is a top non-verbal cooking performance show about four chefs who must prepare a wedding banquet in just one hour. The plot is depicted through various genres of performances, including percussion that uses kitchen utensils to make beats based on traditional rhythms of samulnori (traditional percussion quartet). The entire show has no spoken dialogue, yet plenty of comedy and romance, too.Meanwhile, since its debut in October 1997, NANTA (also known as Cookin') has earned international acclaim, being staged on Broadway and at other famous venues worldwide.*NoteDue to the MERS outbreak, some performances will be discontinued from June 15 to July 31, 2015.
Paju Book City is a leading publishing and cultural hub in Korea, established in 2011, when it began establishing a street of bookstores to transform itself from a place of publication to a place for enjoying book culture. A total of 42 bookstores opened within the book city's first year. In view of participating in international activities, the city joined the International Organization of Booktowns (IOB) in June 2012. The IOB is an organization of 16 book towns in 13 countries.The Paju Booksori Festival is the largest book festival in Asia. Launched in the fall of 2011, the festival draws around 100 publishers, and leading organizations related to the publishing industry, books, education, and culture.
The annual Iksan Ten Million Chrysanthemum Festival is held every year from late October to early November at Iksan Jungang Sports Complex. The festival features an outdoor chrysanthemum exhibit, a national chrysanthemum artwork contest, cultural performances and many more.
Citizens, business, and organizations also put their own chrysanthemum flowers outside to support the festival and to promote Iksan's image.
Daesaseup originated from Pansori music that first appeared around the time of King Yeongjo’s reign (Joseon Dynasty) and has been passed down until today. The Jeonju Daesaseup Festival goes back to the time when outstanding performers from around the nation were invited for an all-night song festival on the eve of the winter solstice. This later developed into a competition, and today, gifted singers from around the nation gather to compete.
Event Programs: The Daesaseup Festival, one of the four major cultural festivals of Jeonju, has served to discover new, talented singers, whose artistry has greatly contributed to promoting Korean folk culture overseas. This is a rare opportunity to experience all types of traditional Korean culture. The festival categories include Pansori master, Pansori general, farmer’s music, dance, musical instruments, three-line poetry, folk songs, Gayageum music, and archery. Visit this festival devoted to Korean folk music, which is soothing for the heart and spirit.
Major Highlights: Each category has its own unique beauty and artistic value. For example, just listening to the farmer’s music is exhilarating. On the last day of the festival, there is a special performance by the winners in each category, so don’t miss it!
Pung-gi ginseng is only grown in the Sobaeksan Mountains and is widely known for its superior quality. The reason Pung-gi ginseng is so highly valued is because of its high content of saponin, which is effective in regulating blood pressure and reenergizing the body. It is even believed to help reduce the risk of cancer. The Pung-gi Ginseng Festival coincides with the peak of the harvest season each year, which takes place around October.
During the festival period, visitors can participate in various events, such as harvesting ginseng and sampling cuisine made from the expensive Pung-gi ginseng. There are also many other tourist attractions located in the Yeongju region, including Buseoksa Temple and Sobaeksan Pung-gi Hot Springs.
Seoul Photo Festival is held with the participation of citizens of Seoul-si, gathering their individual pictures to present the memory of picnic areas and reminding us of what family means. This special exhibition shows a part of leisure culture in the modern era, classified by period and location.