Festivals

“Seoul Drum Festival”: An open festival will be held from Sept. 3 to Sept. 24 at the Seoul Square in central Seoul, for people to enjoy the beat of drums. Festival highlights include opening and closing ceremonies, performances by foreign performance teams, world percussion instrument performances, lectures and seminars. Some performances will be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts’ M Theater. The Seoul Drum Festival is coming into its 13th year in 2011 since its inception in 1999. For more information, visit www.seouldrum.go.kr. 

“2011 Hyoseok Culture Festival”: The festival will be held from Sept. 9-18 in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang County in Gangwon Province, to commemorate modern Korean writer Yi Hyo-seok and his popular novel “When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom.” The novel depicts the connection between human life and beauty of nature through the beautiful scenery of Bongpyeong, the home town of Yi. The festival includes programs such as poem exhibition, literature night, Hyo-seok essay contest, nature experiences (e.g. fingernail coloring using balsam) and buckwheat food cooking. Visitors can tour Yi’s birthplace and memorial hall. For more information, visit www.hyoseok.com.

“Busan International Travel Fair”: The Busan International Travel Fair will take place at BEXCO in Busan from Sept. 2-5. Korea’s local government bodies will introduce Korea’s provincial tour resources and culture. The Travel Industry section’s participants include local government bodies and travel industries. The International Exchange section’s participants include international companies, cities, and foreign government bodies. Visitors will have access to a variety of information. The center stage in the exhibition hall will hold cultural performances from all over the world, and also show promotional images. A photo exhibition showing Korea’s major tour sites will also be on display along with souvenirs. Admission is 2,000 won for adults. Visit www.bitf.co.kr.

“2011 Icheon Ceramic Festival”: Icheon, boasting 1,000 years of history in ceramic arts, will hold the famous “Icheon Ceramic Festival” from Sept. 24 to Oct. 23 at the Seolbong Park in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Visitors will see a variety of Korea’s finest ceramics such as cheongja (celadon porcelain), baekja (white porcelain), and Buncheongsagi (grayish-blue powdered celadon). Highlights include the ceramics excavation program, and a workshop in which visitors can draw their own artwork on slightly heated pottery. Hot springs are located nearby as well for good relaxation. For more information, visit www.ceramic.or.kr.