Gyeongbuk Province to Host Abundant Autumn Festivals in September... 'Samgang Jumaknaruteo Festival' in Yecheon Kicks Off on September 10

International Bulbit Festival, Gatbawi Wish Fulfillment Festival, International Mask Dance Festival, and More

Festivals Arrive on the Cool Autumn Breeze, Coloring Places Red

Festival Guide Poster for Samgang Jumak Dock, Yecheon, Gyeongbuk.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Gyeongbuk Province will unleash a flood of festivals starting in September.

The province plans to direct the footsteps of travelers arriving on the cool breeze to festivals scattered throughout cities and counties to contribute to the local economy.

Known as Samgang (Three Rivers) because the Nakdong River flowing out of Andong Hahoe, the Naeseongcheon winding around Hoeryongpo, and the Geumcheon coming from Mungyeong meet to form three river streams, the Samgang Jumak (inn) is located here. In the Joseon Dynasty, boatmen, peddlers, and yangban scholars traveling the rivers busily passed through this area, and the inn provided food for their hungry stomachs along the old examination road.

During this Chuseok holiday, the Samgang Jumak in Yecheon is expected to be crowded with visitors and travelers returning to their hometowns.

This is because the Yecheon Samgang Jumak Ferry Festival will be held from the 10th to the 12th of this month during the Chuseok holiday at the Samgang Cultural Complex and Hancheon Sports Park area.

Yecheon County has boldly abolished the traditional opening ceremony for this festival and prepared various experience programs and family picnic events under the theme "Samgang Ferry under the Starlight, Stay a While."

The experience programs will be operated eight times a day with seven activities including traditional straw craft such as egg bundles and cup coasters at the Peddler Culture Experience Village within the Samgang Cultural Complex, making Samgang Jumak gel candles, and making songpyeon (rice cakes) for Chuseok.

Also, the picnic program is accepting advance reservations based on 50 teams per day. Reservations can be made on Naver Store until the 30th of this month.

In addition, various events such as traditional Korean music and invited singer performances, and peddler costume experiences will delight the eyes and ears of visitors and tourists.

On the 23rd of next month, the "Pohang International Fireworks Festival" will open.

Under the theme "Land of Hope, Pohang!" it will be held for three days at the Hyeongsan River Sports Park area. Starting with the opening declaration at 6 p.m. on the 23rd, a multimedia show featuring the splendor of lasers, water screens, and lights will be presented.

On the 23rd, the "Pohang International Fireworks Festival" will open.

Also, in a competition format, teams will be recruited and selected to showcase Korea's largest light parade.

At 8 p.m. on the 24th, the grand finale will be decorated with a fireworks show performed jointly by the Philippines, Italy, Sweden, and Korea.

On the 29th of next month, the "Andong International Mask Dance Festival," designated as an honorary cultural tourism festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will begin. This year, a large-scale transformation from the existing festival format will be attempted.

The biggest change is that most festival events will be held in the original downtown area of Andong instead of the traditional venue, Mask Dance Park, to encourage local residents' participation and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.

The festival, held for five days from the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 30th at a special stage on Gyeongdong-ro (in front of Andong Homeplus) until October 3rd, will be held simultaneously with the Andong Folk Festival under the theme "Masking the Troubled World, Return of the Hero."

Various events such as domestic and international mask dance performances, mask play competitions, and mask play grand carnivals will be held, and the festival can also be enjoyed at market busking stages and regional tourism base stages at Hahoe Village and Wolyeonggyo Bridge.

Detailed information about the festival can be found on the Andong International Mask Dance Festival website.

Additionally, in September in Gyeongbuk, the 2022 World Heritage Festival (from the 3rd to the 25th) will be held in Andong and Yeongju areas, and the Gyeongsan Gatbawi Wish Fulfillment Festival (24th to 25th) will also take place.

Kim Sang-cheol, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, "With the Chuseok holiday in September, many visitors including those returning to their hometowns and family tourists are expected to visit the region. We hope that local festivals will enhance the Gyeongbuk tourism brand and contribute to revitalizing the tourism economy. We encourage everyone to visit the Gyeongbuk festivals this autumn and make wonderful memories."