01 Sep 2009, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Chungcheong, Festivals & Holidays, Food & Drink, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, Jeolla, Nature, 2 Comments

Autumn 2009 Festivals Calendar

Summer may be peak festival season in Korea, but I much prefer traveling during the autumn months, when the temps fall, the leaves turn and the crowds are a little less crazy. What follows are some of Korea’s best autumn festivals.

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21 Mar 2009, Posted by Matt in Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, 2 Comments

Andong’s Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy

20090321_dosanseowon Andong is a center of traditional Korean culture. One of its most celebrated sites is the Dosan Seowon, or Dosan Confucian Academy.

The city of Andong in North Gyeongsang Province is famous as one of Korea’s cultural centers. Well-known for its conservative tastes and preservation of folk culture, Andong is high on the list of many travelers’ must-see sites. And one of my favorite places in Andong is the Dosan Seowon (도산서원), or Dosan Confucian Academy (original name: Dosan Seodang).

Constructed in 1574 during the 7^th year of King Seonjo’s (선조왕) reign, the school was built to enshrine the memorial tablet of Yi Hwang (이황). Yi is one of Korea’s most celebrated philosophers. And if you’ve been to Korea, you’ve no doubt seen his likeness, because that’s him on the ubiquitous 1,000-won ($0.72) note.

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02 Sep 2008, Posted by Matt in Chungcheong, Festivals & Holidays, Food & Drink, Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, Jeolla, Nature, Seoul, 2 Comments

Autumn 2008 Festivals Calendar

Autumn is my favorite season in Korea, when balmy days replace the heat and humidity of summer! It’s the best time to get out and discover one of Korea’s many festivals. Here’s a rundown of what to see this month:

Geumsan Insam (Ginseng) Festival (Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province)
August 29-September 7
Geumsan is famous for its high-quality ginseng. The Insam Festival, which has been held every September since 1981, is a traditional cultural event in which villagers pray for a good harvest the following year. Programs include ginseng harvesting, performances of traditional arts and rituals, concerts, an international ginseng trade fair, a ginseng cooking competition and more. (more info: 041-750-2391 or www.geumsan.go.kr/festival)

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