Events South Korea

 Agenda

1st January: New Year's Day, New Lunar Year.
1st day of 1st lunar month: Seol, or Korean New Year's Day.
February: Folk festival, in Yongsan (bullfighting).
1st March: Ceremony in Seoul in honour of Confucius; Independence Movement Day.
April: Festival of flowering cherry trees, in Jinhae (south of the country), Festival of King Danjong, in Yeongwol (music and dancing).
5th May: Childrens' Day
May, various dates: Buddha's Birthday, Chongmyo Taeje (rite of the Seoul royal sanctuary). The first Sunday of the month, Sejong cultural festival in Yeoju (dances, procession of lanterns), Arang festival in Miryang (beauty contest).
June: Dano Festival in Gangneung (shamanic dancing, theatre).
6th June: Memorial Day
From 18 to 24 June: the Taekwondo Festival in Jincheon (in the province of Chungcheonbuk-do), which involves 30 participating countries. Seminars and demonstrations of various martial arts are also on the programme. For more information: www.lovetdk.com
July: Mud Festival in Poryeong (mud games, mud massages, photo competitions, dancing, and nautical games).
17th July: Constitution Day
August: Dance Festival in Miryang. Chuncheon puppet festival.
15th August: Liberation Day
September: Gangjin cultural celadon festival (pottery), Geumsan ginseng festival, beginning of Chuseok ceremonies, the biggest traditional celebration of the year, everywhere in Korea.
15th day of 8th lunar month: (mid-September) Chuseok, or Harvest Moon Festival
October: Namdo Culinary Festival (village of Nagan Eupseong), Andong folk festival, cultural festival of Mount Seoraksan, Halla cultural festival on the island of Jeju, Suwon galbi (grilled beef ribs) festival, Shilla cultural festival in Kyongju, Gwangju gimchi (marinated cabbage) festival.
25th December: Christmas Day