10 free things to do in South Korea !

South Korea is one of the developed countries in the world and I am no doubt about its living expenses are much higher by comparing to developing countries. Low budget visitors or visitor from developing country always think twice before plan to visit South Korea for their trip. However, I have to say it is still possible! I live in South Korea almost a year as a student and I have to say again that there are many free things that you can experience and get to know more about their culture and the country! As a student traveler in South Korea, I would like to share 10 free things that we can do in South Korea!

1. Hi Seoul Festival

Hi Seoul Festival

Hi Seoul Festival is a seasonal cultural festival that has been held four times a year in Seoul since 2003. It is also the biggest-scale festival in Seoul. It usually held in many places around the Seoul Plaza like Cheonggyecheon, Myeong-doing, Gwanghwamun, and the old palaces each year in May. This Festival became very popular due to its various exciting event programs prepared to show the culture, history and arts of Seoul! You can take part and experience in Children's day event and musical performance, global village events, traditional folk and games, Hi Seoul Parade and others activities! The most importantly is almost all the activities are free!! yes! Free! 

2. Ganghwamun plaza

Ganghwamun Plaza

Located in front of the main gate of Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace). The history of this Gwanghwamun Plaza is more than 600 years ago. Gwanghwamun square was considered the venue for government building with six government building straddling the square. Officials from these buildings gathered at the royal palace to discuss national affairs with king during the Joseon Dynasty ( 1392-1910 ). Since then, this area was long considered the heart of Korean politics and it has witnessed important turning points in Korean History! From the far, you can see the water dance and spray around the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-shin ( South Korea worrier ) With no doubt, you can see the night as pretty as in the picture! Please visit my experience on the day of Ganghwamun Plaza launching ceremony! 

3. Free KimChi Making Lesson

Various kind of Kimchi 

Every year during the late fall season or when the weather starting to get colder, the KimChi Making Season is coming. Almost all Korean in the household will prepare the ingredients for Kimchi Making! If you have Korean friends, they will be more than happy to invite you to see how the kimchi is made and you can try to make it by your own! Or during that time you can go to Itaewon-Hannam Global Village Center to take some free lesson on Kimchi Making! Remember! It is an annual program where you can take the lesson during the fall season. 

4. Busan International Fireworks Festival

Busan Firework Festival

This international event takes place at Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge annually! So, the event actually will take place on the night and comprise nearly 80,000 fireworks in one amazing show! The 500minute multi-media display will feature high-tech laser lights, sounds and music to light up the sky over the beautiful Gwangan Bridge! Each fireworks demonstration is precisely-timed with music selections under the each year themes and may have as many as 50,000 explosions in each 15 minute performance! Take your chance to feel the excitement in late summer season.

5. Busan Sea Festival

Busan Sea Festival

The Busan Sea Festival is held at various beach location including Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach, Song-do Beach and Songjeong Beach and at various Places in the city of Busan! It is Korea's largest sea festival and is liaison of Busan International Rock Festival, Busan International Beach Dance Festival, Korean sea Literature Festival, Busan Beach Game Festival and more!! About 30 small to large festival are held during Busan Festival and visitors can pick and choose those most attractive to their personal interests! If you like sea and always wanted to experience the extreme crowded beach ever! This is the festival that you going to excited about!

6. Mud festival

Boryeong Mud Festival

Boryeong Mud Festival is one of the most famous attraction events in South Korea! The festival itself attracts the largest number of international visitor annually and it is free! It usually held in summer season at Daecheon Beach! During the festival period, tourists flock to the area to experience the beneficial properties of the Boryeong mud around the beach and also to have lots of fun! Fully immersed in the both the mud and the festival's great atmosphere, visitors can enjoy many activities like mud wrestling, mud sliding and even swimming in the mud mega tub!! You can take a look at 2010 Mud festival or visit my previous experience in Boryeong Mud Festival. 

7. Lotus Lantern Making Festival

Lotus Lantern Festival

The lantern has the meaning of brightening and praying for the world. You can experience the making of a eight-sided lantern and pray for your wishes. Lotus lantern making will be held next to the Buddhist Street Festival that will offer many, and many more cultural experiences! This festival is very interesting since you can experience the hand on work on making eight-sided lantern by your own and take it back as your gift for free! You only need to register yourself with the organizer, and that it! For more information, visit Lotus Lantern Making Festival.

8. International Hot Balloon Festival

Daejeon Hot Balloon Festival

International Balloon Festival in Daejeon (held in autumn season), is one of the grand festival that can fulfill with amazing experience as well as with the very attractive night scene with various colorful hot air balloon. It features a number of hot air balloon rides for free and aeronautical programs. If you seeking some sky high experience and flying on the sky with the colorful hot air balloon, then this is the event that you don't want to miss it out! Please visit my experience in International Balloon Festival!

9. Asia Song Festival

Asia Song Festival

Asia Song Festival is a prestigious music festival that usually held annually in summer season with all the Asian greatest starts and with the purpose to bring Asia together as a hub of cultural exchange. This festival is giving out free VIPs concert tickets to all foreigners who are stay in South Korea and visiting South Korea. Yeah! Free VIPs Tickets! That’s Right! For more information, please visit  2010 Asia Song Festival or experience in Asia Song Festival.

10. Ginseng Festival

Ginseng Wine 

The Geumsan Insam (Ginseng) Festival (held in every fall) in Geumsan County's leading festival located in Chungcheongnam-do province. The largest producer of ginseng in South Korea as well as medicinal herb market. This festival, which has been running for 30 years and is held to promote the beneficial effects of Geumsan ginseng! In the festival you can see various kind of ginseng products, try different kind of ginseng, ginseng sand feet massage, special massage with ginseng cream and so on. You can experience many program for free! You can visit my experience on Geumsan Insam Festival.  

If you have some free things to do in South Korea, please kindly leave comments here! I will be more than happy to discuss it here! 

( All the sources are base of my own experience and official traveling site. It might be change on time, if you have updated sources, please kindly leave comments, Thanks!)

Pin It