The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on March 12 gave the "global festival" designation to the Boryeong Mud Festival, Andong International Mask Dance Festival and Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Wish Lantern) Festival. Shown is a scene from the mud event on July 26, 2025, in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Province. (Lee Jeongwoo)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on March 12 designated three "global" and four "preliminary global" festivals under a strategy to accelerate the national goal of attracting 30 million tourists per year.

The Boryeong Mud Festival, Andong International Mask Dance Festival and Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Wish Lantern) Festival got the global tag, while the preliminary classification went to the Daegu Chimac (Chicken and Beer) Festival, Busan International Rock Festival, Sunchang Jangryu (Fermented Sauce) Festival and Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival.

Selected through written and presentation evaluations from experts, a global festival qualifies for annual financial support of up to KRW 800 million for a maximum of three years and a preliminary global festival KRW 250 million.

In a bid to more than double the number of foreign visitors over the support period, the ministry will focus on devising strategies to boost inbound tourism, developing interactive content for foreign visitors and improving their convenience.

Another plan is to develop tourism products by area through promotions like free admission to major attractions. This is to encourage visitors to a global festival to spend more time in the region.

aisylu@korea.kr