Travel
Heatwave forces Busan festivals to delay, relocate, or reinvent programs
Haps Magazine Korea
August 20, 2025
(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
With Busan under a heat wave warning and daily highs hovering around 34’C expected to continue into early September, festivals across the city are scrambling to adapt.
Organizers are moving events indoors, delaying schedules, or adding heat-safety measures, prioritizing public health over entertainment.
The Busan Gangseo-gu Myeongji Market Gizzard Shad Festival Promotion Committee announced on the 20th that the 23rd Gizzard Shad Festival will now take place from September 9 to 11, two weeks later than usual.
While the event was canceled during the pandemic, a full postponement to September is considered highly unusual. The committee cited the extreme heat as the reason, noting that many festival programs, such as the walking competition, rely on safe outdoor conditions.
Other organizers are also adjusting. Last month, the 2025 Dongrae Cultural Education Special Zone Festival moved its career talk concert from an outdoor amphitheater to the indoor Dongrae Cultural Center after temperatures soared above 35 degrees Celsius.
Busan’s daytime highs are forecast to remain between 31’C and 34’C through the end of the month, prompting local governments to prepare cooling measures such as shade cloths, misting systems, bottled water, and glucose tablets to prevent heat-related illnesses.
The Yeongdo Beer Festival, underway at the Busan International Cruise Terminal until the 24th, has introduced “cooling zones” with air conditioning, 3,000 bottles of water, and ice packs on standby.
Water-centered festivals are less affected. The “Mobile Pop-up Water Playground: Playing is Fun!” set to open on August 30 at Gayagam Pass Park in Busanjin-gu will proceed without major adjustments, as most attendees are expected to cool off in the pools.
Parasols and fans will be provided for guardians watching from the sidelines.