CULTURAL EVENTS
There are many opportunities for truly entertaining experiences in Korea.
Jeongdong Theater is an affiliated organization under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
It has regular traditional performances in dance, vocal, and music instruments. The dance and music spectacles are performed by artists wearing traditional costumes who have been honored with the title of human cultural assets.
http://www.chongdong.com
Nanta Performance is a combination of traditional Korean folk performance and western art. On the stage is a giant kitchen, the 4 cooks appear and start cooking dishes using rhythm and beats. http://www.nanta.co.kr
Tokebi Storm Performance (a winner of Herald Angel Award in Edinburgh Fringe Festival) – a very unique non-verbal music performance composed of specialized performers and the representative character of Korea.
http://tokebistorm.com/brandnew/index_eng.html
Royal Guard Changing Ceremonies
The guardsmen perform the changing of guard in traditional costumes at the main gates of Royal Gyeongbokgung Palace in downtown Seoul.
Place: Gyeongbokgung Palace
Period: every day except Tuesday.
Time: every hour from 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. (for 30 min.)
http://gbg.cha.go.kr
Festivals Calendar (first half of 2006):
| Period/ Venue | Event name | Description |
| Feb 3-6, 2006 Kangwondo, Inje-Kun | The Inje Pond Smelt Festival | You can take part in ice fishing competition, smelt-tasting event, among a host of different activities. http://www.injefestival.net |
| Feb 9-11, 2006 Jeju Island |
First Full Moon Field Fire Festival | Festival uses an old custom in Korea to set fire to the dry grass in fields and gardens on the day before the first full moon of the lunar new year, to rid the fields of mice and insects that would damage crops in the coming year. http://www.bukjeju.go.kr/foreign/eng |
| End of March,2006. Jeju Island |
Rapeseed Flower Festival | The Rapeseed flower is the representative spring wildflower of Jeju Island. The festival is comprised of a photography contest, drawing contest, and various other shows and hands-on events. http://english.jejusi.go.kr |
| March 25-30, 2006. Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park | Korean Traditional Drink & Rice Cake Festival | The festival will feature traditional beverages and rice cakes of the entire country exhibited in one venue. Here you can sample some rice cakes and try your hand at making rice cakes. http://sulddeok.gyeongju.go.kr |
| End of March- April Jinhae City | The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival | Enjoy Beautiful Cherry Blossoms. This festival is also held in honor of Admiral Yi, Sun-shin, Korea’s most famous naval hero, who fought against the Japanese invasions. http://www.jinhae.go.kr |
| Apr 28 – May 10 Ilsandonggu, Goyang City |
World Flower Exhibition,Goyang | World Flower Exhibition takes place in Goyang City, which is close to Seoul http://www.flower.or.kr |
| May 5-9, 2006 Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do |
Boseong Green Tea Festival | Events will include a demonstration of court tea ceremonies, green tea experience, Boseong sori hanmadang, concert in the tea field, a tea-making contest and much more. |
| April30- May8,2006 Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do |
Damyang Bamboo Festival | It is the only traditional culture festival about bamboo in Korea. Programs include Bamboo Ware Fair, Foreign Bamboo Ware Comparitive Exhibition, Bamboo percussion instrument performance, National Bamboo-sword Cutting Fair, Damyang Bamboo Picture Exhibition, and some other events.http://bamboofestival.co.kr |