| |
Experiencing Korean culture through its food is one of the great joys for visitors. Diverse flavors of Korean food is due to Korean's emphasis on balancing natural harmony through food. Its high quality nutritional value reflect the Korean's belief that food is the medicine. Owing to the isolation caused by the mountainous environment, each regions of Korea have unique specialty dishes, which exclusively use local ingredients of the area. Here are some of food festivals held in Korea where you can sample and experience traditional Korean foods as well as local ingredients that makes Korean food what it is.
|
| |
Gyeongju Traditional Drinks & Rice Cake Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 Gyeongju Traditional Drink & Rice Cake Festival is a great opportunity to sample and shop for mouth-watering delicacies and home-brewed liquor from all regions of Korea, participate in the ancient royal tea ceremony, and learn traditional dining culture. Meanwhile, visitors may also tour major sites of Korean Buddhism like Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grott in Gyeongju.
As you make your way to the festival, don’t forget to stop into Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto. These two attractions are the most visited tourist sites in Gyeongju and are listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.
|
| |
* Location: Bonghwangdae, Wolseong and downtown area, Choi`s Old House of Gyodong Village
* Official site: http://www.fgf.or.kr (Korean) |
|
| |
Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival (May 2012)
|
| |
 Hadong is famous for being the first tea plantation site in Korea. Unlike other tea production sites, which typically use machines for processing, Hadong continues to produce tea using time-honored traditional methods. As a result, it produces particularly high-grade teas, which are often sold at high prices.
During the festival, visitors can sample a variety of Hadong’s tea for free and purchase their favorites at bargain prices. The festival offers visitors a unique and entertaining combination of events and hands-on experiences, drawing a large number of visitors every year. |
| |
* Major programs: Tea Etiquette Ceremony at the first tea plantation site, seminar on tea and tea bowls, farming green tea, demonstration of making Dasi, making wild tea, making tea bowls, Cheonnyeoncha (a thousand year tea) Auction, tea etiquette competition for international tourists, temple stay, temple concert
* Location: - Hwagae-myeon (Tea Culture Center, Ssanggyesa Temple)
- Agyang-myeon (Pyeongsa-ri,Choi Champan Daek (old house))
* Official site: http://festival.hadong.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) |
|
| |
Geumsan Insam (Ginseng) Festival (September 2012)
|
| |
 Geumsan Insam Festival is held every Fall in Geumsan (Chungcheongnam-do), the largest producer of ginseng in Korea. Surrounded by outstanding ginseng and medicinal herb markets, the festival offers great opportunities for visitors to experience the marvelous effects of ginseng. Geumsan Insam Gallery is opened during the festival, displaying virtually every ginseng item; the festival also offers special exhibitions including the International Insam Exchange Exhibition and experience booths for experiencing health therapies.
Aside from the exhibitions are many exciting events, performances, and delicious food to please visitors (including Geumsan folk performances, ginseng performances, and rice cake performances full of songs and dances); hands-on programs let visitors dig ginseng and make rice cakes. Other exciting events include the Ginseng Cooking Contest, Marathon Contest, Song Contest, Ginseng & Medicinal Herb Quiz, Drawing Ginseng Tea, and Slicing Medicinal Herbs, attracting many Korean and international tourists alike.
|
| |
|
| |
Yangyang Songi Festival (Pine Mushroom Festival) (September 2012)
|
| |
 Known to many as 'golden mushrooms,' 'diamonds in the woods,' and 'mystic and magical mushrooms,' songi mushrooms that naturally grow under old pine trees are strictly prohibited from public access. However, at Yangyang Songi Festivals, visitors may tour the natural habitat of these luxurious and precious mushrooms, pick them, and sample dishes made with them.
|
| |
|
| |
Yeongju Punggi Insam Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 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 contents 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 harvesting season each year, which takes place around October.
During the festival period, visitors can participate in various events such as harvesting ginseng and sampling cuisines made from the expensive Pung-gi ginseng. There are also many other tourist attractions located in the Yeongju region, including the Buseoksa Temple and Sobaeksan Pung-gi Hot Springs.
|
| |
* Major programs:Ginseng rituals and ceremonies, harvesting Pung-gi ginseng, Pung-gi ginseng peeling contest, ginseng auction, Pung-gi Ginseng Marathon, hands-on events, etc.
* Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do Yeongju-si Punggi-eup Namwoncheon Region
* Official site: http://www.ginsengfestival.com
(Korean)
|
|
| |
Hoengseong Hanu Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 Every year, Hanu (Korean native cattle) Festival takes places in Hoengseong County, where the climate and the environment are said to be perfect for raising cattle. The festival attracts a large number of people, who come to try the usually expensive Hoengseong hanu beef at affordable prices, along with another specialty of Hoengseong County, deodeok (mountain bellflower). In addition to food sampling, the festival holds diverse agriculture experience programs, while offering access to nearby attractions such as Hoengseong Hot Springs and Jucheongang River Natural Forest Lodge.
|
| |
* Major programs: Hoengseong County specialty sampling (hanu, deodeok, Anheong steamed bread, etc.), Hoengseong Hanu National Wrestling Championship, agriculture experience (oxcart riding, field plowing, etc.), hanu beef cooking contest, hanu photo & sculpture exhibitions, hanu rodeo
* Location: Seomgang River Area
* Official site: http://www.hshanu.or.kr (Korean) |
|
| |
Icheon Rice Cultural Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 Icheon is famous for producing the best rice in Korea. In fact Icheon rice is so good that it used to be served to the king of Korea, and is still highly thought of today.
The Icheon Rice Culture Festival celebrates its famous rice and also the local agricultural practices.
Major events of the festival include a reenactment of the parade that transported rice to Hanseong (the old name for Seoul) for presentation to the king, and the huge rice cauldron that is capable of feeding thousands of people.
|
| |
|
| |
Ganggyeong Fermented Seafood Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 Ganggyeong is well known for its salted seafood market, which is the largest in Korea. This traditional market, which dates back 200 years, stocks both fresh seafood and salted seafood, which has been fermented at low temperatures. Today, the market accounts for half of the nation’s total sales of salted seafood.
During the festival, visitors can buy salted seafood at discounted prices of up to 30-40% at the festival market.
|
| |
* Location:Ganggyeong port, Jeotgal Market, Jeotgal Exhibition Hall, etc.
* Official site: http://www.ggfestival.net (Korean) |
|
| |
Namdo Food Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 The ‘Namdo’ province is well known for its delicious food, which is celebrated at this festival. Famous foods from the province’s cities and regions are available at the festival’s “recommended sampling stalls”, featuring delicacies such as ‘Mokpo Nakji (octopus)’, ‘Suncheon Yeomso-tteokgalbi (grilled marinaded goat meat)’, and much more. Not only will visitors be able to try some of Namdo’s mouth-watering cuisine, but you will also be able to visit an exhibition on Namdo’s traditional dishes that were served at the royal table. The festival location is held at the picturesque Naganeupseong Folk Village, and various other attractive destinations, such as Suncheonman’s Reed Festival, are also located nearby.
|
| |
|
| |
Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival (October 2012)
|
| |
 Gwangju Kimchi Festival celebrates what could be called Korea's national food, kimchi. At the festival, visitors may sample a wide range of kimchi varieties, and learn how to make some, too. In addition, exhibitions, educational and hands-on programs will be held during the festival period.
Meanwhile, visitors to the kimchi festival may tour Gwangju, known as 'home of delicacies.' Thanks to its wide open plains and easy access to Seohae (West Sea) and Namhae (South Sea) waters, Gwangju continues to cultivate bountiful products like rice and a variety of seafood, which are used as the basic ingredients for the region's diverse delicacies.
|
| |
* Major programs: Kimchi Exhibition Hall, Kimchi Industry Fair, Kimchi Fermentation Science Café, Kimchi Supporters, kimchi educational programs, Jonggajip kimchi making, kimchi rice ball making, cabbage harvesting, fusion delicacies made with long-term fermented kimchi
* Location: Gwangju-si, Jungoe Park Area
* Official site: http://kimchi.gwangju.go.kr
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) |
|
| |
Paju Jangdan Soybean Festival (November 2012)
|
| |
 The theme of this festival is ‘soybeans’, a health food that has long been popular in Korea. In particular, the ‘Jangdan Soybeans’ produced in the Paju province have always been highly regarded for their taste and outstanding nutritional value and were even served to the king. Furthermore, in the early 20th Century, the “Jangdan Soybeans’ were designated as the most superior soybeans in Korea and were distributed throughout the country.
During the festival visitors can taste the soybeans and learn how to make dishes made from soybeans including tteok (rice cakes), tofu, and preserved soybeans. |
| |
|
| |
|
HOME > Restaurants > Where to Eat > Food Festivals
