Jeonju Bibimbap Festival
Bibimbap is inarguably one of Korea’s most well-known foods and iconic dishes, while Jeonju in North Jeolla Province is home to the country’s most famous rendition of this classic.
Often noted as one of tourists’ favorite Korean dishes, visitors to this festival can discover more about this signature dish by learning to cook traditional bibimbap, including how to make the best bibimbap, participating in cooking competitions as well as sampling other local recipes.
This year’s festival will be hosted in collaboration with a variety of food events including Korea Food & Tourism Festival, International Fermented Food Expo, Jeonju Yakryeong Hanbang Expo and Traditional Liquor Festival. The upcoming Jeonju Bibimbap Festival will be held from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23.
Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival
The annual Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival is one of the best opportunities for travelers to experience the rich colors and fragrance of chrysanthemums, one of the most popular autumn flowers in Korea. Being held from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6 in Seosan-si, South Chungcheong Province, the upcoming festival will feature a chrysanthemum exhibition showing off various works of art including sculptures and bonsai art.
The festival will also include a large chrysanthemum flower tunnel, pine tree garden and an apple park as well as a myriad of cultural arts performances, including traditional folk dances and music. Visitors will also be able to experience hands-on program activities such as goji berry, chrysanthemum picking, kite flying and small-scale woodworking.
Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival
It’s not possible to talk Korea cuisine without mentioning the country’s No. 1 staple – kimchi. And the annual festival is being held in none other than the home to the nation’s only kimchi theme park, the Gwangju Kimchi Town.
This year’s festivities will be held from Nov. 18 to 22. During the festival, participants will not only have the opportunity to learn how to make their own kimchi, but can also participate in a variety of cooking and kimchi-related programs. Visitors also have the chance to see a wide assortment of Korean kimchi, as well as similar fermented dishes from around the world.
One of the event’s highlighted programs is the “Kimchi Master Competition,” where the hands behind the festival’s best kimchi will be awarded with the Kimchi Presidential Prize.
‘Korea Sale Festa’ offers huge discounts from retailers
South Korea kicked off a nationwide shopping event Thursday with a variety of promotions, cultural and entertainment events to draw more shoppers from home and abroad, and revive domestic consumption.
The massive shopping campaign called the “Korea Sale Festa” runs until Sunday, involving major retailers, manufacturers and traditional markets, while cultural and entertainment programs for foreign travelers will be held throughout October.
The shopping festival is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to link the retail industry with tourism and cultural sectors to unleash demand in time with the major Chinese holiday season. (Yonhap)
2016 Changdeok Palace Moonlight Foreigners Tour
Changdeok Palace Moonlight Tour, one of Seoul’s most popular palace tours, returns once again this year allowing guests the special opportunity to wander around the place grounds under the moonlight.
Typically closed off to the public at night, the annual event allows a limited number of visitors to explore the gorgeously lit-up Changdeok Palace grounds in a special guided tour. Allowing only 100 international guests per tour, the palace will host its annual nighttime palace festivities on selected days until Oct. 16. It should be noted that Koreans are not permitted to join the foreigner-exclusive tours. Tickets to the event cost 30,000 won and must be purchased in advance at interpark.com.
