Busan is good

Here comes 2007

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More celebrated here than the Western new year is the traditional Korean new year, the first day of the lunar calendar year that falls in February.

This, however, doesn't stop many Koreans from welcoming the coming of the solar calender new year this coming Monday.

Just as the people of New York City either flock to see or else tune in on the television to see the fall of an enormous shimmering crystal ball that signals the beginning of the new year or crowds in Sydney, Australia, or Rio de Janeiro watch fireworks ushering in the New Year, Koreans have a pastime as well. They hold sunrise festivals.

Every year Koreans make wishes as they watch the sun rise on the first day of the year with friends and relatives.

And its only natural people head out to the coast or mountains where they can appreciate sunrise to its fullest.

The following is a listing of few of the most famous and sought-after sunrise festivals.

The east coast city of Samchok in Gangwon-do is a popular spot people rush to to bid farewell to the old year and welome the new.

After a new year's evening of pop concerts leading to the year-end countdown at midnight, festival goers can appreciate fireworks and traditional Korean music performances all through the early morning at the Pichijogak Park.

While the sun is rising and moments after, people will fly balloons provided by the city, as they make new year's wishes and resolutions. Call (033) 570-3842 or visit http://tour.samcheok.go.kr/culture

Other East Sea locations are readying sunrise celebrations:

Gangwon-do is famous for several other festivals, that include the annual Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival that is held on Gyeongpo Beach, Donghae, and last but not least the ever popular new year's celeration that takes place in Jeongdongjin.

Festivities at Gyeongpo Beach will start at 10 p.m. and lead to a late evening garaoke stage and K-pop performances as well as a famous annual swimming competition that is held in the early morning. For more information call (033) 640-5422.

The city of Tonghae, under the slogan “Hope 2007,” will be welcoming tourists to watch the sunrise. Every year 33 fireworks are lit 10 seconds before the clock strikes 12 o'clock and festivalgoers together take part in the countdown. One of the events that draw many festivalgoers is the spectacular fireworks that continue into the early morning until sunrise. For more information visit http://donghae.gangwon.kr.

To catch the first rays of the new year sun, Jeongdongjin, a small port located in the city of Gangneung, is a great place to go. Jeongdongjin Station, which became famous after it was featured in the 1996 hit SBS drama “Hourglass” (Morye Sigye), is a popular gathering spot to watch the sunrise.

Situated by the station is the world's largest hourglass with a radius of 3.2 meters and containing eight tons of sand. It takes an entire year for the sand in the top bulb to flow through the tube into the bottom bulb. The turning of the landmark hourglass is the biggest attraction next to the sunrise at the festival. For more information call (031) 506-0500 or visit www.jungdong.com.

In the southern port city of Busan, sunrise festivals are held on the sandy beaches of Haeundae and Dadaepo. There concerts and parades unfold all through the night up until the sunrise. For information call (051) 888-3391 or visit http://www.festival.busan.kr/.

Other popular places for sunrise festivals are the mountains. If you consider yourself to be more of a mountain person, the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Taebak is not to be missed.

Hike up to Mt. Taebak's Hwangji Lake for New Year's Eve and take part in a lantern hanging event. For those who want to enjoy early morning mountain trekking, take part in one of the hi kes organized by the city of Taebak and find yourself by the lakeshore right in time for the sunrise. For more information call (033) 550-2379

However you don't have to travel far to enjoy a sunrise festival.

A 30-minute hike will take you to the peak of Mt. Acha, the first place in Seoul to see the sun. The 287-meter mountain in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul offers festival goers a view of the Han River and a good part of Seoul.

A performance featuring electronic violinists and traditional Korean musicians takes place after the sun rises. Call (02) 450-1114 or visit www.gwangjin.go.kr

District offices in Seoul are readying for New Year's celebrations on the peaks of other mountains in and around the capital city like Mt. Unbong in Seongdong-gu, Mt. Umyeon in Seocho-gu and Mt. Dobong in Dobong-gu.

Watching the sun come up from another one of Seoul's landmarks, the Han River, is also a special way to celebrate the New Year. Han River cruise boats depart at the Yeouido docks for an hour and a half long ride in time for the sunrise. Call (02) 3271-6900 for more information.

N Seoul Tower, formerly known as Namsan Tower, opens its doors at 6 a.m. on New Year's Day. There is a 7,000 won fee for the elevator to the the top of the tower. For more information call (02) 775-5672 or visit www.nseoultower.com.

The 63 Building in Yeouido, western Seoul also offers a spectacular view of the sunrise as well as the city. Entrance fee is 5,000 won and includes a free cup of coffee or green tea. For more information call (02) 789-5663 or visit www.63.co.kr.

The source of news : Korea.net  December 29, 2006