Everything........Korea! Korean! :): International Summer Festival: 2015 Boryeong Mud Festival

Immerse yourself in nutrient-rich mud at the spirited Boryeong Mud Festival, one of Korea’s most popular summer festivals! The festival takes place on Korea’s west coast at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong of Chungcheongnam-do, a few hours ride to the south-west from Seoul. The festival began in 1998 to promote Boryeong as a tourist destination and has since grown to become a major festival well known throughout the nation and abroad. This year, the festival celebrates its 18th anniversary with a range of lively events set to take place from July 18 (Friday) to 27 (Sunday), total of 10 days. Daecheon Beach, the venue of the festival, is the largest beach on Korea’s west coast and is famous for clear waters, ideal for swimming, and an array of water activities to enjoy. The area is also well known for its nutrient-rich mud that has health benefits for the skin. During the festival, you'll get more than your share of refreshing mud as you pamper yourself with mud massages and enter the mud pool. Thanks to its unique theme and energy-charged atmosphere, the Boryeong Mud Festival is one of the most popular Korean festivals among international residents and tourists. Since the festival period falls at the start of one of the busiest vacation seasons in Korea, make sure to book your accommodations early so that you have a place to unwind after a long day of partying. Mud Festivities – Let the Fun Begin! At the Mud Festival, there are so many fun and unique mud-themed activities that you might miss out on if you didn't do your research beforehand. Read on to learn more about the mud beauty therapies and other highlights of the festival! First, ease yourself into the mud madness by stopping by the Self-Massage Zone (free) at the Mud Square and then head to the Experience Booth to make soap or miniature character statues using the famed Boryeong mud. After you've covered yourself in mud, go on over to the air-bounce slide or the Mud Pool Slide, where you'll shoot down the slide into a vat of oozing mud. Make sure you at least get a bit of mud on you as soon as you arrive at the festival grounds or you'll risk being locked up in the Mud Prison with other mud-less visitors. Looking for something a little more challenging? Head on over to the Namgok-dong Foreshore Experience Area, where you'll be challenged with a rigorous mud military training session of ‘Mudflat Obstacle Marathon’ right on the beach. Serious athletes can sign up for this 3 Kilometer Mud Marathon (complete with hurdles) scheduled to take place at 11:30 on July 18, 2015. Participants can register in advance online. Schedule of Activities ▶ Festival period: July 17-26, 2015 ▶ Location: Daecheon Beach Mud Square & Namgok-dong Tidal Flat Experience Site ▶ Mud Square Experience (Air bounce & Mud Experience site) Hours: 09:30-18:00 (Break time: 12:30-13:20 / the times are subject to change depending on the number of visitors.) Admission (cash and credit cards are accepted): [Public Zone] Adults (age 19-64) 10,000 won / Youths (middle to high school students) 8,000 won [EBS Character Kiddy Zone] 10,000 won (Children under age of 13 and accompanying family / Admission is same for children and adults) Facilities available: Mud Super-slide, Giant Mud Bath, Mud Prison, Mud Love Love, Mud Pool Slide, etc. Top Mud Festival Events ① Mud Self Massage Zone The Self Massage Zone is the perfect first stop for timid visitors or the beauty-conscious. Basins of mud can be found all along the beach. Simply reach in or use a brush to spread the mud all over your body and wait for about 10 minutes until the mud turns white before washing yourself off in the ocean. The mud is said to be very good for your skin, so feel free to repeat the process as many times as you like! ② Mud Pool Slide If you cover yourself with mud before going down the slide, you'll pick up even more speed as you barrel down into the mud pool at the bottom. ③ Giant Mud Bath Jump in the giant mud bath and join in the muddy madness! ④ Mud Love Love Teams of two compete in a game to see which side can ring their bell first. Back to back, the participants are tied together with an elastic band and have to run in opposite directions to reach the hand bell on their side. Since everyone is covered in mud, running to complete the goal can be quite tricky. Mud festival side events, perfect complements to the mud madness If you need a break from the festivities, sit back, relax, and watch the Festival Parade, the Yacht Parade, or performances by the Mud Festival mascots Muddori and Mudsuni. The Mud Festival even has free cultural programs in which visitors can try the traditional Korean drum ‘buk’, the double-headed drum ‘janggu’, and the gong. For a more modern approach to art, go and get your body painted with colored mud by a body painting specialist. Schedule of Side Events Black Eagles Show with Korean Air Force ▶ Dates: July 17, 2015 at 15:00~ / July 18, 2015 at 16:00~ ▶ Location: Daecheon Beach near Mud Square ▶ Contents: Special Flight Squadron of 53 Air Force Black Eagles team celebrating the opening of Boryeong Mud Festival. Mud Mime Character Performance ▶ Dates: July 17-26, 2015 ▶ Location: Daecheon Beach near Mud Square ▶ Contents: Various characters of mime performance using colored mud. Street Parade ▶ Date: July 18, 2015 1st Parade: 14:00-15:00 / 2nd Parade: 17:00-18:00 ▶ Parade course: Boryeong Culture Complex → Gyeongnam 4-way Intersection → KumKang Shoe Store → Rodeo Street (main performance act) → via One-way Street → Myeongmundang 4-way Intersection → Woori Bank → Hannae 4-way Intersection → Dongdae 4-way Intersection → Wonhyeong Rotary Park ▶ Places: Boryeong downtown area ▶ Contents: Guard fife and drum band play, nata, hula dance, street performance, and more. Exciting night events, where night owls gather to celebrate their youth! Enjoy the cool, breezy atmosphere of the festival’s night events after a full day of festivities. Night events, held at the Daecheon Beach Mud Square Special Stage from Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 26, include "Mud Fireworks", Korean Air Force’s Musical Band performance, "8090 Concert" with performances by famous singers of the 1980s and '90s and many more. Schedule of Nighttime Events Opening Ceremony ▶ Date: July 18, 2015 at 19:30~ ▶ Location: Special Stage set on the beachside, Daecheon Beach Mud Fireworks ▶ Date: July 18, 2015 at 22:00~ ▶ Location: Beach front, in front of Mud Square, Daecheon Beach Korean Air Force Military Band ▶ Date: July 19, 2015 at 20:00-22:00 ▶ Location: Special Stage set on the beachside, Daecheon Beach 7080 Concert (Closing Ceremony) ▶ Date: July 26, 2015 at 20:00–22:00 ▶ Location: Special Stage set on the beachside, Daecheon Beach Boryeong Mud Festival Guide More info ▶ Festival period: July 17-26, 2015 ▶ Location: Daecheon Beach and neighboring downtown area ▶ Directions to the festival venue: • Train: Yongsan Station to Daecheon Station (Total travel time: approx. 2 hrs 40 min / First train at 05:35 / Last train 20:35 / Approx. 1 hour intervals / Fare: 11,700-21,000 won) • Bus: 1. Central City Bus Terminal (Honam Line) to Boryeong Bus Terminal (Total travel time: approx. 2 hrs 10 min / First bus at 09:00 / Last bus 21:50 / Approx. 1 hour intervals / Fare 10,900-15,900 won) 2. Dong Seoul Bus Terminal → Boryeong Bus Terminal (Total travel time: approx. 3 to 3.5 hrs / First bus at 06:40 / Last bus at 19:30 / Approx. 1 hour intervals / Fare 10,900 won) Boryeong (Daecheon) → Daecheon Beach From Boryeong (Daecheon) Bus Terminal take a local bus towards Daecheon Beach → Get off at Daecheon Beach (Interval: every 10 min / Travel time: approx. 20 min) * Transportation tip During the Boryeong Mud Festival period, there is a bus that departs from Seoul Central City Express Bus Terminal and goes directly to Daecheon Beach. ▶ Translation Services During the Festival During the festival period, translation services are available for international visitors. (English: +82-10-5438-4865 / Japanese: +82-10-2888-3471 / Chinese: +82-10-2031-2270) ▶ Learn more about Boryeong Mud Festival, Daecheon Beach ▶ Website: www.mudfestival.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) ▶ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) ▶ Related columns 10 Summer Beach Destinations Photo courtesy of Boryeong Mud Festival Festival Organizing Committee * This column was last updated in July 2015, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details from the official websites before visiting. <Last updated on July 7, 2015>

Date 07/17/2015