By Jeon Misun
Photos = Lee Jeongwoo

This summer in Korea has been unusually hot, but the sheer fun and energy at the annual Boryeong Mud Festival held at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Province, has helped people forget the heat wave.

Participants covered in mud were so immersed that it was difficult to recognize them, showing how mud unites people. The festival, which has evolved every year over its 28-year existence, offers an even more diverse and dynamic program for 2025.

Captivating visitors from home and abroad, it has reasserted its status as a global summer festival. This year's event runs until Aug. 10.

Beachgoers at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Province, raise their hands and shout in excitement at the Boryeong Mud Festival.

"You can make friends with many nationalities."

American Carl Odfalk, 34, said he laughed with strangers he bumped into and eventually befriended them, adding that he wants to visit both the festival and a Korean beach again.

Rosa Borak, 30, a Turk who saw the festival on social media, said she was impressed not only by the event's unique atmosphere found nowhere else in the world, but also the variety of programs and well-equipped facilities.

Even the scorching sun cannot stop tourists from all over the world from cheering and having fun together.

World-class festival based on mud

The inaugural Boryeong Mud Festival in 1998 sought to promote the host city's famous natural mud. From the initial goal of promoting the provincial city's cosmetics, the event has evolved into a world-class gala attracting an annual average of two million tourists.

Rich in sea minerals and finely grained, Boryeong mud is famous for removing dead skin and moisturizing, making it a sought-after spa ingredient worldwide.

Each experience at the festival offers comfort to visitors. The stresses of everyday life, urban fatigue and travel tension all vanish here like mud cleansing skin.

Two men face off in a showdown at Mud Expo Plaza, the main venue of the Boryeong Mud Festival.

Plenty of activities at Regular Zone

The Boryeong Mud Festival offers a range of activities beyond the typical experience. In addition to its signature Regular Zone, the event features a water park and sections for rest, people with dogs and even shelter nestled in a lush forest. This means everyone can enjoy summer in their own way.

With programs like the Steel Mud Challenge, a test of physical strength, Mud Expo Plaza, bubble play and swing, the Regular Zone offers enough fun to stay entertained for a whole day.

A permanent stage at the Regular Zone hosts several times a day the event "Mud Mob Scene," a combination of water cannons, mud and electronic dance music.

Night unveiled an other facet of the festival. From the World DJ Festival to a "K-hip hop" program and Mnet's "M Countdown," music will resonate from the outdoor stage until the final day on Aug. 10, creating an entertaining evening. Mud Square Plaza and Mud Train, located along Daecheon Beach, are also popular attractions that further enhance the atmosphere.

Aerial show marks festival's peak

The festival also generated excitement in the sky. The Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatic team Black Eagles put on a thrilling show over Daecheon Beach, drawing gasps from onlookers. The elaborate formation flight, heart shapes and Taegeuk patterns of eight planes instantly captivated festivalgoers and tourists alike, punctuating the event's status as Korea's most popular summer festival.

Eight Black Eagle fighters display a spectacular aerobatics show over Daecheon Beach, bringing the Boryeong Mud Festival to fever pitch.