Festivals, sights across Korea
The Hamyang Dried Persimmon Festival will be held through Sunday at the Hamyang-eup Festival Grounds in South Gyeongsang Province, at the foothills of Jirisan. The annual winter event celebrates Hamyang’s famed gotgam, or dried persimmon, prized for their natural sweetness and tender texture, with tastings, cultural performances and hands-on programs introducing traditional drying methods. Visitors can sample and purchase premium dried persimmons directly from local farmers, watch folk music and dance, and take part in family-friendly games. The festival site is about a two-hour drive from Busan and roughly three hours from Seoul; from Hamyang Intercity Bus Terminal, the venue is just a short taxi ride away. Admission is free, making it an easy and affordable weekend escape for travelers seeking a taste of rural Korea and one of its most beloved seasonal treats.
The Baekun Valley Dong Jang Gun Festival offers a family-friendly winter escape just over an hour from Seoul, transforming Pocheon’s Baekun Valley into a seasonal playground through Feb. 22. Now in its 21st edition, the festival is held throughout the valley area in Idong-myeon, Pocheon. Set against snow-covered mountain scenery, the festival features activities for all ages, including snow sledding, ice sledding, ice fishing, indoor fishing, zip lines, amusement park rides and multiple children’s play facilities. Photo zones built around large ice trees and igloos add to the winter atmosphere, while a minizoo caters to younger visitors. More than 20 food stalls serve freshly prepared barbecue, Korean dishes and grilled trout and smelt at affordable prices. Admission is 3,000 won and includes a 2,000 won food voucher. The festival is held at Baekun Valley, at 233 Pohwa-ro, Idong-myeon, in Gyeonggi Province.
Everland is operating a winter program called “Ever to Cabi,” allowing Everland visitors to enjoy Caribbean Bay in one day. As part of the program, Everland guests receive a one-time free admission to Caribbean Bay on the same day. Visitors can begin their day at Everland and then warm up at Caribbean Bay’s heated indoor and outdoor spa facilities. The Ever to Cabi program runs through Feb. 27.
The Yangpyeong Ice Trout Festival has opened at Bongsang 2-ri in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, running through March 2.
Held in Sumi Village, a rural tourism destination recognized for its activities, lodging and food, the festival highlights the clean waters and natural scenery of the region. Visitors can enjoy ice fishing for trout, along with hands-on programs such as net scooping, barehanded trout-catching and dedicated fishing zones. The festival also offers family-friendly activities, including pizza-making, steamed bun workshops, succulent crafting and all-terrain vehicle rides across open fields.
Admission packages start at 10,000 won per person for trout ice fishing and dome fishing experiences.
The Haeundae Light Festival returns for its 12th edition, illuminating Busan with a vibrant display of winter lights.
Until Jan. 18, the festival invites visitors to experience “Stellar Haeundae," with massive light sculptures, immersive media art installations, hands-on programs and evening events. Along the beach, a galaxy-inspired pathway uses shimmering light formations to create the sensation of walking through a starlit Milky Way. Waves of light projected over the sand and shoreline blend with Haeundae’s natural landscape, transforming the city’s iconic beach into an otherworldly landscape.
Festival programs operate from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with full light displays daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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