Gyeongbuk Province 'Summer Festival Heats Up COOLly!' ... Attracting Vacationers and Boosting Local Economy

Starting on the 30th: 'Bonghwa Euneo Festival' Kicks Off, Diverse Midsummer Festivals Continue

Unique Festivals Including Gumi Ramen Camping Festival, Cheongdo Pet Concert, and Bonghwa Santa Festival

'Cool in Bonghwa! Fun with Euneo' Euneo Festival Aerial Photo.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] With the full lifting of social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 endemic, the number of tourists visiting Gyeongbuk Province has been steadily increasing.

As of the end of May, the number of tourists in Gyeongbuk reached 13.84 million, a 31% increase compared to the same period last year. This is believed to be partly influenced by the face-to-face and offline festivals that have been actively held since May.

As the pent-up demand for tourism and travel, which was restricted due to COVID-19, bursts all at once, the upward trend is expected to continue, and with the summer vacation season approaching, this growth is anticipated to become even more pronounced.

The province plans to attract vacationers to Gyeongbuk by offering diverse and unique summer festivals to meet this travel demand.

To this end, festivals will be held simultaneously during the summer vacation period in July and August, which had been subdued for two years due to COVID-19.

First, on the 30th of this month, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s representative festival, the ‘Bonghwa Euneo Festival,’ will kick off the season.

Under the theme “Cool in Bonghwa! Fun with Euneo,” the festival will be held until the 7th of next month along the Naeseongcheon area in Bonghwa-eup.

Starting with the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. on the 30th, summer content programs featuring music such as the Miss Trot concert, a small midsummer night music concert, Euneo festival busking, and the appearance of local trot stars will be held.

Additionally, experience events such as Euneo catching with baskets and bare hands, charcoal-grilled and grilled Euneo, and an Euneo food market will be available. For children, a sand art playground and a water play area have been prepared so that all age groups can enjoy the festival.

Careful preparations have been made to create summer vacation memories with Euneo in the clean and cool waters of Naeseongcheon.

On the 5th of next month, the Seongju Life Culture Festival will open.

Held under the theme “Life is Alive! Rainbow-colored Seongju,” the festival will run until the 14th of next month.

Taking place in Seongju Seongbaksup and Seongju History Theme Park, this festival features a life declaration ceremony centered on the Sejong Royal Birthplace, a prenatal music concert, a Dream Festival, and themed performances, along with a melon dessert food and snack zone and exhibition experience zones.

Moreover, a Healing Forest Zone will operate, offering hologram media art, media facades, water play facilities, and a healing rest area, creating a summer vacation zone.

A metaverse festival site will be established to conduct experiences, games, and events, maximizing promotional effects.

On the 27th of next month, the ‘Ulleungdo Squid Festival’ will open.

Squid Hand-catching Event Held Around Jeodong Port, Ulleungdo.

The festival, held for three days until the 29th at Jeodong Port area in Ulleungdo, will begin with an opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on the 27th, followed by a squid concert and fireworks display.

Experience events include a squid triathlon, bare-hand squid catching, and a squid cooking contest, among various programs. The popular “Pimaek” (Pidegi and beer) party will be expanded this year. In addition, a variety of unique festivals will be held.

Beer and fried chicken party.

In Gumi, a ramen camping festival themed around the nation’s favorite snack, ramen, will be held from the 27th to the 28th of next month, and in Bonghwa, a midsummer Santa Village Festival will run for about a month from the 23rd of this month to the 21st of next month.

Also, the Bongja (Bonghwa’s native flower) Festival will be held from the 28th of this month to the 7th of next month, and in Cheongdo, a pet concert for companion animals will take place on the 6th of next month, filling the midsummer nights in Gyeongbuk with unique and abundant festivals.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, “We have prepared a variety of festivals for vacationers seeking cool places during the scorching summer heat,” adding, “We hope everyone creates happy memories during their long-awaited vacation in Gyeongbuk, a safe and comfortable region where you can recover your mind and body exhausted by COVID-19.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.