Does anyone have recommendations for festivals or events in South Korea that are worth planning a trip around?
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Hi @GTJourneys
I’ve been to quite a few events and festivals on my travels over the years, but with ease of movement and quick sharing of information available online today they can be quite crowded and price increases are to be expected. You might even need to apply for tickets online.
As an example, I was lucky enough to be at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
There weren’t really that many ‘tourists’ around then and we could easily get tickets to any event from a bank in Downtown Seoul, without having to queue; even for the 100 metres final (probably one of my highlights).
Back to your question: Best Festivals and Events to Experience in South Korea.
Some popular festivals include Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival in Spring, Seoul Lantern Festival, Boryeong Mud Festival, and the Jinju Lantern Festival.
There are also plenty of music festivals and food festivals around the country. I find some of the lesser known festivals often provide a better cultural insight, and it’s easier to get to know the locals.
My best advice would be to check out the Visit Korea website and see what’s happening where, when you intend to visit the country.
Michel
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Thanks for sharing your travel suggestions, @TravelNotes – I’d love to experience the cherry blossom festival.
@GTJourneys - we visited South Korea over Lunar New Year in February 2025. It’s a time when Koreans visit their families and pay respect to their ancestors, so it’s a quiet season. We loved Seoul, especially the food (as a vegetarian, the potato pancakes quickly shot to the top of my list of favorite dishes! Anyways, because of the festivities, lots of museums and palaces will be free and not at all busy. So I can recommend visiting over Lunar New Year.
The Visit Korea website is a good place for inspiration!
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