Korea is a colourful kaleidoscope. With skyscrapers and mighty monuments, on one hand, the cultural diversity and heritage of the country are also worth experiencing. Its traditions, community, people, rituals, and culture are as gorgeous and spectacular as its natural beauty. To know and experience these whole-heartedly, nothing is as better as the indigenous festivals. While you explore and see the natural aura of the country, try to rejoice some of these famous festivals in South Korea that give you an in-depth glimpse of the country’s history and heritage.

Famous Festivals In South Korea

1. Jeju Fire Festival

This is one of the most famous festivals in Korean celebrated over 3 days in late February and March. The beautiful city of Jeju is set ablaze to pray for and welcome the new year with good health, happiness, and ample harvest. It symbolizes the ancient ritual of burning old grass to get rid of vermin before resuming the next farming season. This is a unique celebration and the sight of the hilly city on fire looks dazzling and stunning. The festival is also celebrated with folk dance, torch march, and tribal games and activities.

2. Jinju Lantern Festival

Popularly famed as Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, this is one of the oldest festivals in Korea, that showcases the country’s traditions and culture. The native people lit thousands of red lanterns by the bank of Nam River and make wishes for the well-being, health, and prosperity of their near and dear ones. The custom started way back in 1592, iconizing with the custom of lighting lanterns to avoid Japanese troops from commuting the Namgang River during the Japanese invasion period. Hence these lanterns also pay tribute to the Jinjuseong Fortress Battle veterans. Along with the surreal sight of innumerable lit lanterns, one can enjoy the street parades, performances, local street food and even make their own lantern and hang them in the Tunnel Of Wish Lanterns.

3. Seongsan Sunrise Festival

Every year, on the first day, local people hike up to the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, locally called Sunrise Peak to witness the first rays of the Sun of the year and wish happiness, health, and prosperity for all. Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Korea, known for a jaw-dropping view of the surrounding and listed by UNESCO as a World Nature Heritage Site. Seongsan Sunrise Festival commences on New Year’s Eve with a nature trail, torch rally and folk dance and music by local artists and midnight fireworks.

4. Hansik

Hansik festival is popular as the Cold Food Festival. On this day, the local people indulge in non-fire cooking and consume cold food throughout the day. As per Korean mythology, the entire country performs sacrificial rites at Jongmyo the Royal Shrine and Neungwon. Local people hold their personal memorial services and visit their families’ ancestral graves. People also plant trees around the grave and offer prayers. Hansik festival marks the beginning of the farming season and the farmers also spread seeds from the farmhouse to commence agriculture.

5. Seollal

Beginning with the first month of the year, Seollal (or Seolnal) is not only the first most important but also the biggest holiday in South Korea.

Seollal is New Year’s Day in the lunar calendar. Koreans celebrate Seollal with various activities and rituals which some sources say it goes back to the sixth century.

One of the must-do activity during Seollal is to show respects to parents and elders in the family, including the ancestors. These forms of respects would usually include the “Sebae” (New Year’s Bow) and “Charye” (ritual for ancestors).

During Seollal, Koreans usually wear the traditional clothing called “hanbok” and enjoy “tteoguk” (soup make of glutinous rick cake) and “yakwa” (traditional sweets), and play “Yunnori” (matching the opposites sides of wood sticks).

6. Daeboreum Festival

Daeboreum Festival is one of the famous festivals in South Korea celebrating during the first ‘full moon’ of the new year. I believe it relates to the lunar farming calendar that signals farmers to prepare or do something on the farm.

Usually, Koreans play games the night before the full moon. Traditionally, farmers burn hays between the rice fields while others play around with cans containing charcoals with fire inside them.

Burning hays could fertilize the soil and fire could drive away pests that eat the plants, including rice. Drinking traditional wine, eating nuts, and praying for a good harvest is part of Daeboreum celebrations.