Festivals Calendar - April 2009

SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- The following are the major cultural and tourist festivals to be held in South Korea in April:

* Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival
When: April 4-7
Where: Yeongam, South Jeolla Province

The festivasl began in honor of renowned Baekje dynasty scholar Wangin, who
crossed the sea to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese emperor roughly 1,600
years ago. A teacher in the Japanese court, Wangin taught Japanese officials
Chinese characters and other aspects of Korea's Baekje culture and civilization.
For further information, contact the Yeongam Festival Promotion Committee on
061-470-2349, or visit its homepage at www.wangin.org.

* Daegaya Experience Festival
When: April 9-12
Where: Goryeong, North Gyeongsang Province

The Daegaya Experience Festival highlights the ancient culture of Daegaya, a
mysterious kingdom that existed some 1,500 years ago on the southern tip of the
Korean Peninsula. Visitors will be able to view rock art painted by prehistoric
inhabitants and experience ancient tombs and metalworks prodiced by the Gaya
kingdom. More information is available at http://fest.daegaya.net or by calling
054-950-6424.

* Eobang Festival
When: April 24-26
Where: Gwanganri Beach, Busan

Eobang refers to the fishermen's cooperative community in Suyeong, located in the
city of Busan. The festival is the largest spring celebration in the southeastern
port city. Visitors will be able to enjoy fishermen's dances and games, raw fish
and other sea food dishes, as well as other colorful events in the natural
setting of Gwanganri Beach. For more information, visit
http://festival-eobang.suyeong.go.kr or call 051-610-4062.

* Hero Yi Sun-shin Festival
When: April 28-May 3
Where: Asan, South Chungcheong Province

Around 70 events will be held at the Hyunchungsa Memorial Shrine and the
Gokgyocheon River in Asan at this year's Yi Sun-shin Festival, marking the 464th
anniversary of the birth of Joseon Dynasty hero Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Asan is the
hometown of Adm. Yi. A reenactment of "mugwajeonsi," or the state-held
examination for military servicemen, an international symposium, a turtle-boat
race, and a reenactment of part of the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and
Adm. Yi's exploits are to be offered. For more information and a profile of Adm.
Yi in English, visit the event's site at http://festival.e-sunshin.com or call
041-540-2601. The site also offers pages in Japanese and Chinese.

* Hampyeong Butterfly Festival
When: April 24-May 10
Where: Hampyeong Expo Park

Hampyeong, South Jeolla Province, becomes a "land of butterflies and flowers"
each spring. During the expo, about 120,000 butterflies will be released over
flower gardens spread across an area of one million square meters. The program
will include ecology related activities such as releasing butterflies.
Eco-friendly farm produce will also be for sale. For further information, go to
www.inabi.or.kr or call 0505-322-2008.

* Goseong Dinosaur World Expo
When: March 27-June 7
Where: Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province
Located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, the Goseong area is where
more than 1,900 fossilized footprints of dinosaurs were found on a six-km-long
coastal rock bed believed to have formed approximately 100 million years ago
during the early and middle cretaceous period. Along with the U.S. state of
Colorado and the west coast of Argentina, the site is recognized as one of the
world's three largest collections of dinosaur fossilized dinosaur footprints. For
further information, visit the web site at http://dino-expo.com or call
080-2006-114.
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