South Korea Names Three Festivals as Key Tourism Attractions
South Korea is embarking on a mission to elevate three significant cultural festivals to international prominence. The Boryeong Mud Festival, Andong International Mask Dance Festival, and Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival have been earmarked for extensive development to transform them into premier global events.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, revealed that these three festivals have been chosen as “Global Festivals” after a rigorous selection process. Additionally, four other festivals—Daegu Chimac Festival, Busan International Rock Festival, Sunchang Fermented Soybean Festival, and Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival—have been identified as “Preliminary Global Festivals.”
Under the Global Festival program, the government will provide substantial financial support to the newly designated festivals, with up to 800 million won ($580,000) annually for a maximum of three years. The Preliminary Global Festivals will receive 250 million won per year to aid in their development and promotion.
During the support period, each festival will receive assistance in devising strategies to attract a higher number of foreign tourists. The aim is to at least double the international attendance and enhance the experiential offerings for visitors from around the world. To bolster the overall experience, the government plans to install cameras and distance-measuring sensors at festival locations to monitor crowd levels and traffic flow. Furthermore, efforts will be made to improve capacity management and visitor convenience through the implementation of a food payment system.
The government anticipates that these Global Festivals will play a pivotal role in achieving the target of 30 million inbound tourists sooner than expected. The success of the three festivals designated as Global Festivals in 2024—Incheon Pentaport Music Festival, Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, and Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival—saw a combined 130,000 foreign visitors in 2025.
Looking ahead, the ministry aims to collaborate with local governments to create comprehensive regional tourism packages that entice foreign attendees to prolong their stays. For instance, the Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, known for its nighttime allure, will team up with nearby municipalities such as Sancheong, Sacheon, and Goseong to develop extended-stay tourism options. Similarly, the Andong International Mask Dance Festival is planning to offer additional benefits to visitors, including complimentary access to key tourist sites in Andong and nearby areas like Mungyeong, Yeongju, and Goryeong.
Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young expressed optimism about the future of Korean tourism, stating that this year presents an excellent opportunity for the industry to make significant strides. By focusing on developing diverse tourism products centered around Global Festivals and Preliminary Global Festivals, the government aims to enhance the convenience and appeal of K-culture to attract more foreign tourists and create vibrant festival experiences that showcase the best of Korean culture.