HAEUNDAE-gu

Busan Sea Festival

Hosted by the Busan Culture & Tourism Festival Organizi ng Committee, this festival takes place in early August yearly across six famous beaches in Busan: Haeundae, Songjeong, Gwangalli, Dadaepo, Ilgwang, and Songdo Beaches. It is an important seaside festival to promote Busan as a marine city, hosting various events including the opening ceremony, Busan Rock Festival, Busan International Hip-Hop Festival, Busan International Magic Festival, Love for Sea Concert, Summer Funny Land, Cruiser and Yacht Racing, and marine sports activities.

Haeundae Sand Festival

It is Korea’s one and only festival making the most of sand, an eco-friendly material from nature. On the wide white sand beach, enjoy various events such as an exhibition of sand sculptures by globally well-known sand artists, a speed sculpting competition, and a parade. Apart from these, you can also try activities such as sandboarding and sand sculpting.

Dongbaekseom Cultural Tourism Festival

It is a cultural festival held on top of Dongbaekseom Island in October yearly. In addition to tea ceremonies to honor Choe Chiwon, a noted Korean Confucian scholar, its activities include a poetry reading event, a gugak (traditional Korean music) performance, and hanji craft and tea ceremony workshops.

Haeundae Polar Bear Festival

It is one of the best-known winter festivals on Haeundae Beach. Grab the rare opportunity to jump into the freezing cold ocean like a polar bear. Since 1988, it has attracted youth from all over the world and members of swimming communities, encouraging them to show off their passion for the ocean and creating the scenery of summer in the midst of winter.

Haeundae Countdown and New Year Festival

This countdown and New Year festival is held from December 31 to January 1 yearly to say goodbye to the passing year and wish everyone a Happy New Year. It features a special performance for the New Year’s Eve countdown, fireworks over the sea, a special stage, a sunrise event, and a photo zone to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. Apart from these, you can also participate in loads of activities, such as sky lantern–releasing and lucky bag-making.

Haeundae Lighting Festival

It is Haeundae Beach’s best-known festival for winter with Haeundae Sand Festival for summer. Held in Haeundae Beach, it is a unique lighting festival distinguished from other similar festivals in Korea. It features a long line of beautiful lights along the road from the beach, passing Gunam-ro, Haeundae Market, and Hot Spring Road. Apart from the exhibition of lights, it offers a wide range of programs, such as the Carol Competition, Ceremony for 100 Santas, Wishing Tree Festival, and photo-printing services, captivating the hearts of tourists visiting Haeundae Beach.

Marine Leisure Festival

This festival occurs in June yearly on Songjeong Beach, the mecca for marine sports in Korea. In addition to various cultural events, it offers you an exciting roster of marine sports, such as surfing, skimboarding, and Jet Skiing. It also features an exhibition on marine sports along with engaging activities. This event is highly recommended for those interested in marine sports.

Busan International Magic Festival

It is Korea’s one and only international magic festival held yearly. Be enthralled by a host of magic events, including the Fringe Magic Show, Guerrilla Tour, Magic Gala Show, Magic Busking Championship, and International Magic Competition across different venues, such as Gunam-ro Plaza and Busan Cinema Center. People of any gender or age—not to mention those interested in magic—can surely enjoy this festival.

Bansong Hanmaeum Festival

It is a local festival to promote harmony among Bansong residents, taking place in Bansong 1-dong and 2-dong in turn. People of any gender or age can partake in various engaging events, such as a pre-ceremonial pungmul (traditional Korean folk performance), special stage with invited guests, singing competition for residents, and performance given by locals. Have fun at this heartwarming event, which offers treats for the eyes and taste buds with food markets run by local groups.

Songjeong Summer Beach Festival

Hosted by the Songjeong Festival Organizing Committee, this festival has been held every August across Songjeong Beach since 1996. It features the Festival Night, a singing competition, and an event to promote harmony among residents.

Haeundae Dalmaji Hill Arts Festival

This event turns Dalmaji Pass into a festive venue for various performances of different genres that encompass theatrical productions, contemporary dance, moonlit concerts, lectures on philosophy, and cultural (flea) markets. Along Dalmajigil Road, there will be an exhibition of works by young artists. This festival also features art therapy sessions so that visitors can have a whole new experience.

Suyeong Riverside Festival

Held in Suyeong Riverside Park, an integral part of life in Banyeo-dong, it is a local festival to wish for Banyeo-dong’s prosperity and bring harmony among its residents. It features a singing competition, a special performance by invited singers, and local sports events, such as foot volleyball, yunnori (traditional Korean board game), rope skipping, and Hula-Hooping. Visit the various booths as well for a charity bazaar and village workshops.

Haeundae Dalmaji Oncheon Festival

Held on Haeundae Beach, it is Korea’s largest folk festival to celebrate January 15th of the lunar calendar. On the day before January 15th, people put papers in a huge bonfire called daljip to make wishes and ward off bad luck. By burning this five-story daljip made of pine tree twigs, they aim to ward off misfortune and bring good luck for the New Year. Its main events include gillori (street parade), jisin bapgi (ritual to earth god), woryeong giwonje (prayer ritual), a candle ritual, nongak nori (farm music performance), ganggangsullae (traditional Korean dance), Hot Spring Dance, and a folk festival. Catch the rare opportunity to enjoy oryukgwibeom, an event that reenacts fishermen’s joyful return to the port with a full load of fish and seagulls flying around the boat.

Jangsanje Festival

It is a traditional mountain festival held in October yearly in Jangsan Mountain, the guardian mountain of Haeundae-gu, to wish the well-being of and harmony among local residents. The peak of the Jangsan Mountain with an army base normally restricted to civilians is opened to the public during the festival period, which is the reason for the dramatic increase in the number of visitors. It will give you a unique opportunity to enjoy climbing on your day off by participating in various events such as mountain rituals (sanje seoneon and gocheonmun bongdok , folk performances, daedong nori (a special event with the participation of community members) to welcome mountain spirits, a stomping event, and a get-together with a pungmul (traditional Korean folk music and dance) band.

Damangol Cultural Festival

This is a cultural festival for local residents of Bansong-dong. It features a various cultural events, such as a local singing competition, engaging activities, and special stages with invited guests. See the local residents get together and enjoy the festival to the fullest.

Jaesongpo Festival

According to the volume of Dongnaebuji (Outline of Dongnae-bu) on mountains and streams written in 1740, “Jaesongpo Port is located 10 ri (about 2.5 km) away from Dongnae-bu (traditional administrative district), filled with 10,000 pine trees.” As this excerpt shows, the origin of the village name, Jaesongpo, can be traced back to the 18th century. This festival has been taking place since 2007 to bring harmony among local residents in the Jaesong area. It is an authentic local festival that encourages local residents to become its host and participants.