The festivals

South Korea is a colorful and charming country. Festivals play a significant role in South Korean culture and are steeped in more than 5,000 years of history and customs. Many traditional celebrations center around myths and legends or the changing of the seasons. Ancient customs upheld by farmers have evolved into contemporary practices, and brand-new festivals have appeared for a younger generation to enjoy.

Here is a list of the best festivals in South Korea, from the Jeju Fire Festival to Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival in Busan. The first festival is the annual Seoul Lantern Festival which takes place from November's first Friday to the third Sunday. In order to observe the kilometer-long section of Cheonggyecheon Stream lighted with spectacular lantern structures, about 3 million people visit Seoul's Cheonggyecheon Plaza each year. Every year a new subject is chosen, usually including certain aspects of Korean culture.

The Seoul Jazz Festival might be ideal for you if you enjoy K-Pop. This year, the Seoul Jazz Festival has come back after a three-year break. Leading local musicians will also perform at the festival, including the hip-hop group Epik High, the singer-songwriter Sunwoo Jung-a, the brother-sister duet AKMU, and the vocalist Baek Ye-rin. Together with cellist Hong Jin-ho of the band Hoppipolla and tenor Cho Min-Gyu of Forestella, bandoneonist and composer Koh Sang-Ji will perform jazz and tango fusions. The jazz trio Moonchild from Los Angeles, R&B singer-songwriter Pink Sweat$, and more have performed for the first time for festival-goers in the area.