October Festivals in Korea 2012

This is how it looks these days and it was muggy almost the whole day!

It's just the beginning of fall and in a matter of days we will be experiencing hard core chilly winds and freezing temperatures. Various festivals are in full swing across the country this month as people take advantage of the beautiful autumn weather and autumn foliage.

A fermented seafood festival (ggfestival.co.kr) has been taking place in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province since Wednesday. Visitors can buy salted seafood at discounted prices and enjoy 79 events, such as making kimchi with salted seafood, until Sunday. For more information, call 041-730-3224.

Coffee lovers may want to head to Gangneung, Gangwon Province, between Friday and Oct. 28 to enjoy a coffee-themed festival there (033-647-6802). The area is filled with coffee shops, factories and plantations.

Around the Imjingak area in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, a ginseng festival highlights the efficacious properties of the herb this weekend. Last year, it saw a huge turnout as 760,000 people showed up. Visitors can enjoy hunting for ginseng in the woods, tasting liquor made of the root, participating in a ginseng auction and making dolls with ginseng, among other scheduled activities. Also in Paju, soyabean festival will be held between November 16th. to 18th,

In Icheon, a city famous for producing rice in Gyeonggi Province, a festival (ricefestival.or.kr) awaits those who are interested in making various dishes using the staple food. Visitors will be able to buy agricultural produce and other local products such as newly harvested rice and ceramic items, while also roaming a marketplace and enjoying various performances. For more information, call 031-644-4125.

Meanwhile, at Gwangalli Beach in Busan, some 80,000 fireworks will be set off against the backdrop of Gwangan Bridge. For more information, call 051-888-3392~6.

See the full article at Chosun Ilbo here.