By Kang Gahui

Incheon Pentaport Music Festival: explosive band sounds

This scene is from last year's Incheon Pentaport Music Festival, which ran from Aug. 1-3, 2025, at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District. (Incheon City Hall)

The Incheon Pentaport Music Festival, one of the country's leading music events, brings together top-tier artists from Korea and abroad. Launched in 2006, the festival marked its 21st edition this year and used powerful band sounds and electrifying stage energy to provide an unforgettable fan experience at the height of summer.

In addition to the main performances, the side events added to the excitement including "Penta Super Rookie," a stage for emerging artists, and audience-participation aerobics. A children's zone was also set up for family convenience.

This year's version ran from July 31 to Aug. 2 at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District.

Official website: https://www.pentaport.co.kr/

Boryeong Mud Festival: getting dirty for global unity

This is a scene from last year's Boryeong Mud Festival, which ran from July 25 to Aug. 10, 2025, at Mud Square and Mud Expo Plaza around Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Province. (Korea.net DB)

The Boryeong Mud Festival is the nation's premier interactive event in summer featuring the clean and natural mud of the host city. Launched in 1998, the gala celebrated its 29th edition this year as a global party that brings people together regardless of nationality and ethnicity.

The main attraction of the event is the range of mud experiences that stimulate all five senses at spaces like a large mud area and zones for mud experience, family and water park for children. Performances covering diverse genres such as K-pop, hip-hop and the indigenous vocal genre ppongjjak (trot) are also highlights.

This year's festival was held from July 24 to Aug. 9 around Daecheon Beach and Mud Expo Square in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Province.

Official website: https://mudfestival.or.kr/festival/view

Andong Maskdance Festival: traditional performing art of excitement and mystery

This is a scene from last year's Andong Maskdance Festival that ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 5. (Festival's organizing committee)

The Andong Maskdance Festival focuses on traditional Korean masks and related dances, but also spotlights mask traditions and performing arts from around the world. Since its inception in 1997, it has developed into a platform for flaunting the beauty of Korea's traditional mask dances and promoting cultural exchange with related traditions from other countries.

Traditional mask dances designated National Intangible Cultural Heritage are performed alongside shows by invited domestic and international troupes. Workshops also allow visitors to experience traditional culture by making masks and learning mask dances.

This year's festival is scheduled from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 around Central Line 1942 Andong Station and Talchum Park in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

Official website: https://www.maskdance.com/

Suwon Hwaseong Festival: royal procession with 230-year history 

This is a reenactment of the Royal Procession to the Tomb in 1795 by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), a signature event of the Suwon Hwaseong Festival. (Festival's organizing committee)

The Suwon Hwaseong Festival features history and traditional culture that reinterprets with a modern twist the 1795 royal procession to Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, organized by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) to celebrate his mother Lady Hyegyeong's 60th birthday. Began in 1964 as the Hwahong Cultural Festival, the event marks its 63rd edition this year.

Historical moments recorded in the Joseon historical document Wonhaeng Eulmyo Jeongri Uigwe (Protocols of the Royal Procession to Hwaseong in the Eulmyo Year) will be brought to life through performances, parades, interactive programs and public participation events around Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, both of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This year's festival is slated from Oct. 4-11 around the fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do.

Official website: https://shfestival.com/

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival: light of peace illuminates river

This is a scene from the 2024 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (Oct. 5-20) along the Namgang River and around Jinjuseong Fortress in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. (Festival's organizing committee)

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival traces its origins to the Battle of Jinjuseong Fortress in 1592 during the Imjin Waeran, the Japanese invasion of the Korean Peninsula in the late 16th century. During the melee, lanterns were floated on the Namgang River to convey military signals and serve as a method of communication.

This practice eventually evolved into a tradition honoring the spirits of soldiers, government officials and civilians who died in the second battle of the fortress. Today, the event is a festival of light symbolizing peace and hope.

During the festival, traditional lanterns embedded with historical significance and contemporary creative lanterns illuminate the river and the fortress, creating a beautiful nightscape unique to the host city.

This year's festival will be held from Oct. 3-18 around the river and the fortress in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

Official website: https://yudeung.com/

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: thrill of barehanded fishing

This is a scene from last year's Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival (Jan. 10 to Feb. 1) along Hwacheoncheon Stream in Hwacheon-gun County, Gangwon-do Province. (Korea.net DB)

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival is one of Korea's top winter events. Domestic and foreign visitors flock to the area every winter to experience the thrill of catching the fish that inhabit the pristine waters there.

Highlights include ice fishing, in which holes are drilled into the frozen river for catching sancheoneo, lure fishing and catching fish with bare hands. Winter activities feature ice sledding across the frozen Hwacheoncheon Stream and ice bobsleigh, soccer and skating.

The next festival is scheduled from Jan. 9-31, 2027, around the stream in Hwacheon-gun County, Gangwon-do Province.

Official website: https://www.narafestival.com/01_icenara/

kgh89@korea.kr