Spring Festivals in April and May
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Exciting festivals under a luscious spring breeze
Spring Festivals in April and May
With spring almost upon us, Busan is getting ready for a flurry of festivals. The area near Gwangalli Beach will see the 11th Gwangalli Eobang Festival, where visitors can taste fresh raw fish amid fully bloomed cherry blossoms, while Chinatown in Choryang-dong will host the Chinatown Special Zone Festival, a celebration of Korean and Chinese culture. The Daejeo Tomato Festival at the Gangseo Sports Park will be showing off the very best in locally sourced tomatoes. And in May, around Mt. Yongdusan Park near Gwangbok, the Joseon Tongsinsa Busan Festival will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. In this article, we take a look at what the festivals have in store.
“Taste juicy, fresh Daejeo tomatoes”
Daejeo Tomato Festival
• April 2 and 3, Gangseo Sports Park Square
The 11th Daejeo Tomato Festival takes place at Gangseo-gu District Gangseo Sports Park Square over the two days of April 2 and 3.
The tomato-related fun at the festival includes picking contests, a tomato eating contest and an auction, along with other events such as a Chinese circus performance, a b-boy show and a dance contest.
At the yard sale, visitor s will be able to pick up delicious tomatoes for rock-bottom prices, before checking out a tomato show, a food tasting zone, a tomato photograph contest, present wrapping and tomato-themed food exhibition, photo contest at Daejeo Tomato character zone and more.
An agricultural exhibition will be showing off environmentally friendly produce, while a market will be offering the best of Gangseo’s fruits and vegetables at great prices.
• Information
Daejeo Tomato Festival Organization Committee (051-606-8083)
• How to get there
Metro Line No. 3 to Gangseo Sports Park Station. 3 minutes’ walk from the station.
Fishing and eating raw fish
Gwangalli Eobang Festival
• April 22 to 24 at Gwangalli Beach
The 11th Gwangalli Eobang Festival will be held at Gwangalli Beach from April 22 to 24, providing visitors with a chance to enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom, the beautiful scenery of Gwangan Bridge and irresistibly fresh raw fish. Eobang is the name of the fishermen’s union for the Suyeong region, and this year’s festival will see fishing-related attractions such as drawing in the Eobang net, a street parade, the Suyeong Folk Performance, and the chance for visitors to catch raw fish with their hands. Altogether, there will be 35 different programs, exhibitions and performances.
The first day of the festival will kick off with a celebratory performance by popular singers, followed by fun events such as Building Suyeong Castle and an auction of raw fish. The second and third days will see the fish catching event, the street parade and a reenactment of a traditional fishing scene called Jindueowha.
Jindueohwa, or traditional torchlight fishing, features lights emanating from 30 fishing boats, creating a spectacular view against the colorful night illuminations. A fireworks event is also planned, and throughout the three days, the Eobang net drawing event will be offering visitors the chance to catch fresh fish for themselves.
There will be a series of folk performances ？ including Jwasuyeong Eobang-nori, Suyeong Yaryu and Suyeong Nongcheong-nori ？ all of which are registered as intangible cultural assets of Suyeong. Visitors can also check out the food court and a raw fish preparation contest.
• Information
Suyeong-gu District Office (051-610-4062), Web site (Festival-eobang.suyeong.go.kr)
• How to get there
Metro Line No. 2 to Geumnyeonsan Station and Gwangan Station. 10 minutes’ walk from the station.
“Experience Chinese culture”
8th Chinatown Special Zone Festival
• April 29 to May 1, Chinatown in Dong-gu District
Taking place from April 29 to May 1 in Dong-gu District, the eighth Chinatown Special Zone Festival is a chance to experience the best and most fascinating in Chinese culture. Organized by Busan Dong-gu District Office and the Chinatown Special Zone Festival Organization Committee, the event kicks off at 10 a.m.
The itinerary includes more than 30 events, including quizzes, Chinese food tastings, Chinese circus shows, a showcase of traditional Chinese clothes, and performances of traditional Korean and Chinese games along with Chinese martial arts. Special for this year is a noodle festival, where visitors can try noodle dishes from all around the world. The event was prepared with foreign residents in mind. The festival will also include laser and fountain shows and a fireworks festival at Busan Station Square.
Over the course of the three days, Chinese restaurants in Chinatown will be selling jajangmyeon noodles for 2,000 won and other Chinese dishes with 10 percent off.
• Information
Dong-gu District Office (051-744-7707)
• How to get there
Metro Line no. 1 Busan Station. 3 minutes walk from the station.
Bicycle parade on banks of Nakdong River
3rd Busan Green Bike Event
• April 27, 2 p.m. Samnak Riverside Sports Park
Taking full advantage of the newly arrived spring breeze, a large-scale bike parade will take place along the banks of the Nakdong River in Busan.
Busan City will host the 3rd Busan Green Bike event at the Samnak Riverside Sports Park, in Sasang District Office, from 2 p.m. on April 27.
The event will include a “Busan Green Bike” ceremony, in which around 1,000 people ？ including members of bicycle tour groups and biking clubs ？ will take part in bicycle riding resolution readings, bike riding demonstrations and other festivities.
The ceremony will take place at the Samnak Riverside Park Culture Square, and will also include performances of aerobics and bike acrobatics.
The parade will commence at 3 p.m. from the community stadium, before moving on to Hyamyeong Riverside Park, Gupo Station, Samnak IC and Samnak Riverside Sports Park.
• Information
Transportation Policy Division (051-888-3341)
• How to get there
Metro Line No. 3 to Gupo Station. Take bus No. 123 or 126 from the station and get off at Samnak Riverside Park.
Looking back at a historical mission of peace
Joseon Tongsinsa Busan Festival
• From May 5 to 8 at Mt. Yongdu Park and the Gwangbokro
Four hundred years ago, the envoys of the Joseon Tongsinsa went on a voyage of peace and exchange with Japanese neighbors. Today, the 10th anniversary event is marked by the Joseon Tongsinsa International Culture Exchange Project. As well as reviving the Joseon Tongsinsa Parade, the exchange project will host the “I Love Busan” parade, and a special welcome parade of Japanese artists.
Around 2,000 locals and visitors from Japan are expected to take part in the festival. In addition, the Korean Japan Music Festival will see six teams of Korean and Japanese musicians present an exciting performance, while visitors will also be able to check out the Korea Japan Food Festival, a clothes zone, a history theme zone and more.
Haesinje, the ritual conducted to wish a safe journey to the Joseon Tongsinsa envoys, will be reenacted in front of th e Joseon Tongsinsa History Hall. Jeonbyeolyeon, the food the envoys ate, will be prepared as well. Also taking place are a quiz, “Joseon Tongsinsa, Ring the Golden Bell”.
• Information
Busan Cultural Foundation (051-744-7707)
• How to get there
Metro Line No. 1 to Jagalchi Station. 15 minutes’ walk from the station.
The Source of News: Dynamic Busan
