Festival culture in Korea is quickly evolving, with creative ideas taking shape in the hands of the young and wild. With the Korean summer bringing sweltering heat, many are opting for water-based outdoor events, among many others.

One of the prime locations for such festivals is Sinchon, the area next to Yonsei University, Sogang University, Ewha Womans University and Hongik University. Sinchon stands out among popular cultural venues because of the high number of young people and because vehicles are barred from the main road through the area on weekends. In July, almost every weekend will see something special taking place in the area. 


Sinchon Water Gun Festival (July 9-10)

If anyone’s ever envied Thailand’s Songkran, the country’s New Year celebration involving splashing water in the summer sun, envy no more -- the Sinchon Water Gun Festival is here to quench your thirst for a water fight. The long stretch of carless road rolling out from the front gates of Yonsei Univesity turns into a scene of guerilla water warfare open to anyone from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 9 and 10. Entry is free of charge while water gun packages, including access to lockers and changing rooms, will be available for just 5,000 won ($4.30). The package tickets can be purchased in advance via Funtastic Korea, the Seoul PASS mobile application and Trazy. Participants are encouraged to bring their own water guns that can be filled from a sprinkler truck. Organizers are currently arranging for a real fire truck to be dispatched from the Seodaemun-gu Office to help give the festival a boost, as has been done in previous years’ events. 

www.facebook.com/watergunfesta


Sinchon Beer Festival (July 16-17)



The Sinchon Beer Festival, nicknamed the “Sinchon Oktoberfest” after the famous German festival, set the Korea Records Institute’s record for the most beer glasses simultaneously clanged, gathering 3,619 people to toast each other in its very first event last year. In this year’s festival, the Sinchon main road running from subway station to the front gates of Yonsei University will once again be crowded with tables laden with beer. This year’s theme is “beach party.” Tickets can be purchased on site. An online page for presale is currently being built.

https://www.facebook.com/2015shinchonbeer


Wake Up City 2016 Sinchon (July 23-24)



Why walk when you can slide? Wake Up City 2016 will transform the Sinchon main road into a 250-meter waterslide on July 23 and 24. Various performances will take place alongside, including one with a K-pop girl group.

The festival will also take place at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza from July 29 to Aug. 7; at Busan’s Haeundae beach from July 29 to Aug. 14; and at World Insect Expo Yecheon from July 30 to Aug. 15. With minor differences by venue, the events will take place between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and will be followed by an electronic dance music festival to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on site.

Lee Sang-jun, the general director of the festival, told The Korea Herald in a written interview that he hopes Wake Up City will grow from a family event to a cultural campaign. He anticipated more than 100,000 citizens would participate in this year’s events. 

http://www.wakeupcity.co.kr/


Hangang Waterfight Festival (July 23-24)



While similar to the Water Gun Festival, the Hangang Waterfight Festival is more a face-off between two giant teams. The festival is taking public suggestions on how to form the two teams, each of which they hope will be 10,000 people. The water fight will take place in the spacious grounds of the Han River waterfront with electronic and hip-hop as the ambient music. Entrance is free of charge. Tickets for discount deals can be purchased online, the page for which is currently being built. 

https://www.facebook.com/한강물싸움축제-867458509957963/


Rain Festival (July 28-31)



The Rain Festival is a one-of-a-kind event designed to raise public awareness of the importance of water and the hydrologic cycle. On each of the four days of the festival, the area in front of the Seoul City Hall will take on a distinctive thematic look. The first day is the “Rain Movie Day,” on which films that have catchy scenes involving rain will be screened. The second day is the “Rain Concert Day,” on which rain-related songs will be sung on stage by veteran singers. The third day is the “Rain Flea Market Day,” with rain paraphernalia on sale. The fourth and the final day is the “Rain Playground Day,” featuring an air bounce system for a leisure environment.

Entry is free of charge. Tickets for in-event discount deals can be purchased online, though that page, too, is currently being built. 

The organizing director of the festival, Han Gil-woo of event planning firm Moounga, said in a written interview with The Korea Herald, “This festival is to remember the importance of the cycle of water and to encourage people in all walks of life to participate and interact through the festival activities in reaffirming the social goal of saving water resources.” 

https://www.facebook.com/rainfestival



Hangang Ebul Film Festival (Aug. 12-14)


On drowsy mornings where nothing could possibly feel more natural than being caught between soft sheets and plush blankets, the Korean popular youth saying goes: “It’s dangerous outside the bed.” The Hangang Ebul Film Festival, “ebul” meaning blanket, will help transform the Yeouido Hangang Park into a giant pajama party and a field of blankets, with movies to go with the warm, cozy summer evening. There will be a Party House, Couple House, All-nighters House and many other movie houses under unique themes. One hundred mini-beams will simultaneously light up 100 screens for movie-of-my-choice areas.

Details for this August festival are currently being outlined by the event organizers. Check their Facebook page for updates on how to participate. Tickets can be purchased on site. 

https://www.facebook.com/ebulmovie

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

Sinchon Beer Festival and Hangang Ebul Film Festival will be postponed or canceled in case of heavy rain. The others will proceed regardless. – Ed.