Travel
Three Korean festivals designated as “Global Festivals” in tourism push
Haps Magazine Korea
May 13, 2026
(Photo by Jinju City/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have officially designated three major regional events — the Boryeong Mud Festival, Andong International Mask Dance Festival, and Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival — as Korea’s new “Global Festivals.”
The designation is part of the government’s broader effort to attract 30 million foreign visitors to Korea ahead of schedule by strengthening international tourism outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
Under the initiative, the three festivals will receive expanded overseas marketing support, tourism promotion campaigns, and infrastructure investment aimed at improving accessibility and the visitor experience for international travelers.
Authorities also selected an additional group of “pre-global” festivals that will receive development support as potential future global tourism events.