01 Dec 2009, Posted by Matt in Festivals & Holidays, Gangwon, Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, Jeju, Jeolla, Seoul, 1 Comments

Winter 2009-10 Festivals Calendar

Think that winter is when you stay bundled at home? Think again! Korea’s distinct four seasons guarantees a packed winter festival season, a boon for travelers who enjoy ice fishing, sunrise watching and fireworks to ring in the New Year. As always, be sure to check out the Korea Tourism Organization’s great interactive festival website (Go here).

Boseong Tea Fields Festival of Lights (Boseong, South Jeolla Province)
December 11-January 31
Boseong is justly famous for its beautiful rows of green tea fields, and its most famous plantation has turned its dormant season into a light show. For seven weeks, from 17:30 until 24:00 every day, Boseong’s orderly rows of tea will host an elaborate light show. See computer-generated photos of this year’s show on the website.
(more info: call +82-61-1330 or visit here [Not a terribly helpful site].)

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21 Feb 2009, Posted by Matt in Festivals & Holidays, Jeju, 9 Comments

Jeju Feature Part 1: Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival

For the past 11 years, Jeju has hosted the spectacular Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival.

About 2 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions created South Korea’s southern-most province, the island of Jeju-do. Jeju was ruled by the Tamna Kingdom (탐라국) for millennia before it entered and exited a series of tributary relationships with peninsula kingdoms. It wasn’t until 1404 that Tamna ended with Jeju’s final incorporation with Korea’s Joseon Dynasty.

Since volcanoes created Jeju, it’s no surprise that an annual fire festival would be among the island’s most popular events. And for the past 11 years, the island has celebrated the lunar new year’s first full moon with the Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival (정월대보름들불축제).

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