These scenes from last year's Daegu Chimac (Chicken and Beer) Festival are from July 2-6, 2025. (Daegu Metropolitan City)

By Lee Dasom

Daegu Chimac (Chicken and Beer) Festival

The Daegu Chimac (Chicken and Beer) Festival, now in its 14th year, is one of the nation's leading summer festivals, drawing huge crowds of hungry domestic and international visitors every year.

For seven straight years since 2020, the event was designated a "culture and tourism festival" by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This year, it was upgraded to a "preliminary global festival."

The highlight is cooling off on hot summer nights with fresh Korean-style fried chicken and ice-cold beer. The new Global Lounge, exclusively for foreign tourists, will also open at the observation deck of 2.28 Freedom Plaza.

📅 Period | July 1-5, 2026

📍 Location | Duryu Park area in Daegu's Dalseo-gu District

🔗 Website | www.chimacfestival.com (Korean and English)

This is a scene from last year's Boryeong Mud Festival that 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)

Boryeong Mud Festival

Launched in 1998, the Boryeong Mud Festival is an international summer extravaganza for people of all ages and nationalities. This year's event will see the usual variety of mud-based interactive programs as well as an expanded lineup of attractions including K-pop and hip-hop performances and a drone light show.

This event has also gotten a big boost in its global standing thanks to its designation as a "global festival" this year.

📅 Period | July 24-Aug. 9, 2026

📍 Location | Daecheon Beach area in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Province

🔗 Website | https://mudfestival.or.kr/festival/view# (Korean and English)

Crowds shoot their water guns at "World's Largest Water Fight," the highlight of the Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival that was held last year from July 26 to Aug. 3 along the Tamjingang River and at Cypress Forest Woodland in Jangheung-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. (Festival's official website)

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival, designated a preliminary global festival this year, offers water-themed activities to help beat the midsummer heat. This year's edition will feature dynamic hands-on programs like the Global Water Fight Street Parade and "Catch the Golden Fish," exhibitions and celebratory performances.

📅 Period | July 25-Aug. 2, 2026

📍 Location | Tamjingang River, Jeongnamjin Cypress Forest Woodland, Bappiyong Zip in Jangheung-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province

🔗 Website | https://festival.jangheung.go.kr/festival (Korean only)

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 District. (Incheon City Hall)

Incheon Pentaport Music Festival

The Incheon Pentaport Music Festival will feature leading artists from Korea and abroad for electrifying performances and powerful sounds on summer nights. Among six global festivals designated this year, the event is dubbed of Korea's premier music galas, with 66 acts to showcase a diverse lineup spanning multiple genres.

In addition to the main performances, interactive programs and events will include Penta Super Rookie, a platform for emerging artists, photo zones, a food and beverage area, and a workshop where visitors can make their own music-themed keychains.

📅 Period | July 31-Aug. 2, 2026

📍 Location | Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District

🔗 Website | https://pentaport.co.kr/index (Korean and English)

Other events to explore during summer include the Geumsan Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) Festival (July 10-12) in Geumsan-gun County, Chungcheongnam-do Province; Music in PyeongChang (July 23-Aug. 2) in Pyeongchang-gun County, Gangwon-do Province; Jochiwon Peach Festival (July 24-26) in Sejong; and Andong National Heritage Night (July 31-Aug. 9) in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

dlektha0319@korea.kr