A five-day outdoor beer festival took off Wednesday at Coex Mall, Gangnam, heralding the beginning of a rare long-weekend holiday in Korea.

At the Great Korean Beer Festival 2016, homegrown craft beer brands introduced their own specialty brews enriched with hints of coconut, chocolate and raspberries. Beer of all types -- IPAs, lager, ale and stout -- are available at individual brewery booths for purchase.

Food that goes well with the beers -- like sausages and fried chicken -- are also available, in addition to live music performances.

Entry to the festival is free with a valid identity proof. The event runs through Sunday between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the outdoor area next to Coex Mall near Samseong Subway Station exits 5 and 6. 

Participating Korean breweries include Jejusien, Korea Craft Brewery, Kabrew, Platinum Brewing, Weizen Haus, The Hand and Malt Brewing Company, Magpie Brewing Co., Playground Brewery, Barbarosa Brau, The Booth Brewing, Gorilla Brewing Company, ATL Korea, Global Craft Korea, Interbeer Korea and more. 

Visit the GKBF website for more information: http://greatkoreanbeerfestival.com/

Thursday is Children’s Day in Korea -- a state-designated holiday -- and Sunday is Parents’ Day. In what is widely interpreted by the public and experts as a move to encourage people to spend more and revitalize the domestic economy, the government has announced Friday as a temporary holiday.

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