Across the country, festivals that capture residents' lives and local character unfold all year round. As of last year, there were more than 1,100, meaning three festivals a day on average nationwide for a year. But many festivals remain little known. ChosunBiz introduces festivals that energize local economies every week and conveys the appeal of festivals that friends, couples, and families can enjoy together. [Editor's note]
In Busan, the entire city center is bathed in light for the year-end and New Year period. Light festivals using illumination and lasers are held one after another in major areas, including Haeundae Beach, Seomyeon, Gwangbok-ro (Nampo-dong), and Oncheoncheon. Most are free events organized by local governments, and they are seen as breathing warmth into otherwise quiet winter commercial districts by drawing tourists.
The largest event is the Haeundae Light Festival, now in its 12th year. This year's theme is "Stellar Haeundae," and it runs through Jan. 18 next year along Haeundae Beach and on Gunam-ro. The centerpiece is a scene where starlight spreads like waves and connects to Haeundae's night sea.
The Haeundae Light Festival drew attention as a "reverse thinking" approach that uses a beach, a summer tourist spot, in winter. In its early years, the festival centered on Gunam-ro, but since 2019 it has expanded to the shoreline, linking the route from the sea to downtown with light installations.
A "starlight gate" will be installed at the entrance to Gunam-ro, and a 4-meter-tall three-dimensional sculpture symbolizing the moment a star explodes will be erected at the center. Large trees 3 meters, 5 meters, and 8 meters tall will also appear.
On the sandy stretch of Haeundae Beach, the "Haeundae Universe Zone," depicting planets, stars, and spacecraft in lights over a 180-meter section, will unfold. The lights are on daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Haeundae District Chief Kim Seong-su said, "I hope you spend a happy year-end and New Year under warm lights at the Haeundae Light Festival."
The downtown of Busan is already in a festive mood. The Seomyeon and Busan downtown festival began on Oct. 13 and runs through Feb. 14 next year. It offers a variety of attractions, including light installations, photo zones for pictures, and participatory cultural events. The festival was also selected among the "Korea Nightscape 100," a list of nighttime tourism assets chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
Jung-gu's Gwangbok-ro and Dongnae-gu are also adding to the year-end atmosphere. On the 5th, Gwangbok-ro will kick off with a lighting ceremony, followed by the "Winter Light Tree Festival" through Feb. 22 next year. Various events are planned, including busking performances by local musicians and a participatory lighting ceremony where citizens can switch on the tree lights themselves. On Dec. 20–21, there will also be hands-on programs such as a Christmas cooking class and mini tree making.
Dongnae-gu will hold the "Oncheoncheon Light Festival" starting on the 19th. This year's festival, themed "Oncheoncheon Love Song," will feature light installations along about 1.1 kilometers. It can be viewed daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Feb. 1 next year.
The festival is divided into six zones — "Overture of light," "Song of the seasons," "Fantasy," "Oncheoncheon love song," "Delicious harmony," and "Song of lanterns" — and plans to offer distinctive sights in line with the flow of traditional culture, seasonal themes, and the future.