Where to go in Korea in May: 45 festivals

Festivals and seasonal sights in 48 places across Korea in May: Korea Seonbi Culture Festival (Yeongju), Jaraseom Flower Festa (Spring) (Gapyeong),…

Top 10

Korea Seonbi Culture Festival — A re-enacted civil-service exam and a traditional wedding procession fill the Seonbichon yard. The Sunheung car parks fill early on festival weekends.
Sobaeksan Azalea Festival — Late May into early June the ridgeline turns pink. The Huibangsa route reaches Yeonhwabong in about 2 hours 20 minutes.

Jaraseom Flower Festa (Spring) — Poppies and cornflowers cover the south island. The ₩7,000 entry comes back as ₩5,000 in local vouchers to spend at the market.
Yeoninsan Azaleas — Mid-May the summit ridge turns pink. It's a six-to-seven-hour round trip from Baekdun-ri or Yongchu, so pack lunch and plenty of water.

Boseong Green Tea Festival — Held over the early-May holidays, with leaf-picking and tea-making sessions and the busiest fields of the year. Book the hands-on sessions ahead.
Ilimsan azaleas — The ridge turns pink with the bay spread beyond it. The Yongchu valley car park fills on weekend mornings.

Chunhyang Festival — Held in May around Chunhyang's day on the 8th of the fourth lunar month. The pageant and night shows are the core; book town lodging well ahead.
Baraebong royal azaleas — Climb from Herb Valley to a ridge gone pink, late April to mid-May. The car park fills early on weekends.

Danyang Sobaeksan Azalea Festival — Three days in late May; the 42nd edition ran May 22–24, 2026. Shows are free, some activities charge. Town parking fills up, so come early.

Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival — Early May the ridge turns red. Weekend traffic into the car park backs up, so be there before 8 a.m.

Jeonju International Film Festival — Opens in late April and runs about ten days into May. Cinema Street next to the guesthouse stays busy late and hotels fill early. Popular screenings sell out the day booking opens.
Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival — Around the early-May holidays: a hanji fashion show, craft workshops and paper-making. Go to the workshop booths in the morning before materials run out.

Mokpo Music Play — A three-day outdoor music festival in late May, with K-pop and band stages running into the night.
Purple Island lavender — When the Bakjido hillside goes purple for real. Weekend traffic backs up on Cheonsa Bridge, so leave early.
Mokpo World Madang Festival — Three days in late May or early June when streets and squares become stages for a privately run performing-arts festival, with Korean and overseas troupes and street theater.
Mokpo Marine W Show (dancing sea fountain) — Jets of water and light move to music on the floating stage. Free; the railing spots fill by 7:30pm.

Dalgubeol Lantern Festival — The weekend before Buddha's Birthday, thousands of lanterns parade from Duryu Park along Dalgubeol-daero. The road closes for the procession.
Dongseongno Festival — The whole shopping district becomes a stage: street acts, a parade, DJ sets at night.
Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival — Try slicing herbs, wrapping medicine packets and sampling herbal teas for free in the lane. The spring market day of a 400-year-old herb street.

Taehwagang Spring Flower Festival — Timed to April-May when the riverside beds go red and blue with poppies and cornflowers. Widest view is from across the river near sunset.
Ulsan Onggi Festival — Early May. Potters throw jars on the wheel and fire the kilns. Hands-on pottery sessions have long lines during the festival.
Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival — Millions of blooms in the rose garden. During the festival entry costs around ₩1,000 except on the first day, card only.

Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec