Summer festivals are the best way to cool off the Korean summer heat. Grab the fence and let yourself go rockin’, crack open some cold ones with fried chicken on a grass lawn, or pamper your skin with the finest mud. No matter what you choose, these festivals will make your time unforgettable with the things that you can enjoy only in Korea. Here are some of the festivals that you can choose from.

┃Daegu Chimac Festival

Koreans love “chimac” (a combination of fried chicken and beer, maekju in Korean), and what better place to enjoy the combo than Daegu, the center of the “chimac” culture and the host of the Chimac Festival? After all, Daegu has long been known for its developed poultry industry and chicken cuisine, and it’s where many of Korea’s fried chicken franchises got their start, from Mexican Chicken to Mexicana, Cheogajip Chicken, Hosigi Dumari Chicken, and Ttang Ttang Chicken. The best thing about Daegu Chimac Festival is the fact that you can sample a truly delicious variety of fried chicken in one giant picnic held on a grassy field. From unique pubs serving the titular combo to guest performances by famous singers, the festival never disappoints when it comes to side activities.

Daegu Chimac Festival

• Period: July 2-6, 2025

• Venue: Duryu Park area (7 Gongwonsunhwan-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu / 대구광역시 달서구 공원순환로 7 두류공원 야구장)

• Inquiries: +82-53-248-9998

• Website: chimacfestival.com (English, Japanese, Chinese) / Instagram @daegu_chimac_festival

┃Boryeong Mud Festival

This is a festival dedicated to Boryeong’s famous mud from Daecheon Beach. The Boryeong Mud Festival has a global reputation, attracting hundreds of thousands of international visitors from all over the world every year, and for good reason, as the festival offers a variety of attractions and interactive programs for unforgettable memories. In the Regular Zone, which is for teenagers and adults, you can enjoy full body activities such as large mud baths and mud slides. In the Family Zone, both adults and children can cover themselves with mud and play together. You can also participate in programs such as mud self-massage and colored mud painting, which utilize the benefits of Boryeong mud in different ways.

Boryeong Mud Festival

• Period: July 25-August 10, 2025

• Venue: Mud Plaza (123 Meodeu-ro, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do / 충청남도 보령시 머드로 123 대천해수욕장)

• Inquiries: +82-41-930-0891

• Website: mudfestival.or.kr (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish) / Instagram @mudfestival_korea

┃Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival is held at the Tamjingang River, one of the main rivers in Jeollanam-do. As summer heats up, the festival kicks off with cool, refreshing energy, using the clean waters of Tamjingang River and Jangheung Dam Lake. Visitors can enjoy a variety of water-themed fun activities, including the Salsu Battle Street Parade – a lively water gunfight held on the roads closed to traffic. Other fun activities take place in the river flowing through the city, such as underwater tug-of-water, underwater running, and canoeing – perfect for cooling off in the heat. One of the festival’s main highlights is Global Water World, where you can dance to the EDM performance by famous DJs while getting splashed with cool water.

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

• Period: July 26-August 3, 2025

• Venue: Tamjingang River and Cypress Forest Woodland (83 Chilgeoriyeyang-ro, Jangheung-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do / 전라남도 장흥군 장흥읍 칠거리예양로 83)

• Inquiries: +82-61-860-5770~3

• Website: festival.jangheung.go.kr (English, Chinese, Japanese, Thai) / Instagram @jangheung_water_festival

┃Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival

As one of the most famous rock festivals in Korea, Pentaport Rock Festival is a global festival that unites the world through music. Each year, the festival invites top musicians from around the world to create stages that set the hearts of the audience on fire. Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, this year’s Pentaport Rock Festival features world renowned artists, such as hip-hop artist Little Simz, Chang Kiha, Crying Nut, Jaurim, LUCY, and other acclaimed performers. The festival will feature standing areas for the dancers and the headbangers, as well as a picnic area for a more relaxed experience.

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival

• Period: August 1-3, 2025

• Venue: Songdo Moonlight Festival Park (350, Central-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon / 인천광역시 연수구 센트럴로 350)

• Inquiries: +82-1899-6709

• Website: pentaport.co.kr / Instagram @pentaportrf

┃Gangneung Culture Night

This is a night festival celebrating the cultural heritage of Gangneung, a coastal city on the East Sea. It will be held at the Gangneung-daedohobu Government Office, a designated cultural heritage site and its surrounding areas, with special nighttime exhibitions, performances, and experience programs. The highlight of the festival will be a reenactment of the street performance held by Gangneung residents to welcome the new governors during the Joseon dynasty. Other features include a drone light show, a hanbok fashion show featuring Gangneung residents, a beer street, and lively zones filled with food trucks and activities.

Gangneung Culture Night

• Period: August 14-16, 2025, 18:00 - 23:00

• Venues: Gangneung-daedohobu Government Office (6 Imyeong-ro 131beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do / 강원특별자치도 강릉시 임영로131번길 6) - Seobu Market (6 Imyeong-ro 155beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do / 강원특별자치도 강릉시 임영로155번길 6)

• Inquiries: +82-33-823-3224

• Website: gncn.or.kr / Instagram @culture_tour_

* This column was last updated in June 2025, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.

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