“The 14th Seoul Fringe Festival”: The 14th Seoul Fringe Festival will be held in the Hongdae area in Seoul from Aug. 11-27, offering visual art, theater, dance, music and multimedia. The event aims to promote underground arts scene of the capital. While indoor art performances will be held across 31 theaters and clubs, outdoor performances will take place at around Hongik University Station on Subway Line Two and alleys, parks and playgrounds in the Hongdae area. Indie band Mimi Sisters created a logo song “Because of Fringe” which they will showcase on Aug. 11 for the opening of the festival. While outdoor events are free, tickets for the indoor shows are priced between 5,000 won and 20,000 won. For more information, visit www.seoulfringefestival.net/eng.
Poster of the 14th Seoul Fringe Festival (Seoul Fringe Network)
The Great Battle of Hansan (1592) is one of the four most famous sea battles in the history of Korea. Visitors to the festival, which celebrates the anniversary of the great event, will learn all about the battle while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery of Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province. This year, the festival will take place from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14 in Jungang-dong in Tongyeong. The festival’s highlight is a magnificent reenactment of the Great Battle of Hansan in which a battle between “Geobukseon,” or Korea’s turtle-ships, and Japanese ships is reenacted out in the ocean. Admission is free. For more information, call (055) 650-4531 or visit www.hsdf.or.kr.
“Busan Sea Festival”: The Busan Sea Festival will be held from Aug. 1-9 at locations including Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach, Song-do Beach and Songjeong Beach, as well as at various places in the city of Busan. It is Korea’s largest sea festival, and is a liaison of Busan International Rock Festival, Busan International Beach Dance Festival, Korean Sea Literature Festival, Busan Beach Game Festival and more. All participating beaches offer windsurfing and beach volleyball tournaments, pin-swimming tournament, and a lot more water sports events. Visitors can also take advantage of free lessons offered in ocean rafting, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving and banana boat rides. For more information, call (051) 888-3395 or visit seafestival.co.kr.
“Gangjin Celadon Festival”: Gangjin Celadon Festival will be held from July 30 to Aug. 7 at the Goryeo Celadon Porcelain Kiln in Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province. From the 10th to the 14th century, Gangjin was a flourishing celadon production site. Today, 16 kilns remain active and during the Gangjin Celadon Cultural festival, you can see how celadon is baked and even make your own pottery. Near the venue, there are natural wild flower fields, which make for a great photo spot. Celadon experience programs include shaping celadon and coiling, standing spinning wheel experience. Other event programs include balsam nail polishing and clam digging. Admission fee is 7,000 won. For more information, call (061) 430-3191.
