7 more crazy fun things to do in Korea this summer
Add this to your to-do list this summer. Korea is hosting some crazy fun events this summer (indeed, every summer) and here are seven more musical, martial and nautical events that may give you tinnitus far past the last light of August.
We're seeing more U.S. stars flying in for movie premieres and concerts than when we were actually in the United States, and more European DJs than there are weekends in a year.
Just don't forget your deodorant and dry shampoo or you'll regret it as you're sweating profusely during the sauna-weather days of a Korean summer.
1. Ultra Music Festival Korea
The Ultra Music Festival, known globally as UMF, will finally arrive on the shores of East Asia for the first time via Korea.
After rising as a major festival in techno circles, UMF expanded from its Miami origins and became an international hit as a series of festivals all over the world.
The inaugural lineup of UMF Korea includes Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Tiesto, Carl Cox and Friends, The Crystal Method and John Digweed.
Dates: August 3-4
Jamsil Sports Complex Stadium. 10 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 잠실동10); +82 2 2240 8800; www.umfkorea.com
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2. Green Groove Festival
The Green Groove festival is a techno and hip-hop festival hosted on the popular beaches of Daechon in the Chungcheong province.
Meant to be an environmentally friendly music event, it is the only music festival hosted on a beach this summer. Among the many slated to perform are Infected Mushroom, 10cm, Delispice and another whole list of performers that hasn't been unveiled yet.
Dates: August 13-14
Daecheon Beach 1st Parking Lot, 2017 Sinheuk-dong, Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong Province (충청남도 보령시 신흑동 2017 대천해수욕장 제 1 공용주차장); +82 70 7169 9023; www.greengroove.net
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3. Eminem concert
Hyundai Card, one of Korea's top credit card companies, has been on a spectacular roll with its concert series lineups. Following Lady Gaga in Seoul and Jason Mraz in Busan, Eminem will be performing at the Jamsil Sports Complex Stadium in Seoul in August.
This is Eminem's first concert in Korea after years of stadium sellouts in neighboring Japan.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper will be bringing along his own personal band. While tickets on the official site www.ticket.interpark.com were sold out within minutes, there will be plenty of scalpers at the concert site. Just make sure to get there early.
Date: August 19
Jamsil Sports Complex Stadium, 10 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 잠실동10); +82 2 2240 8800
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4. Bucheon International Comics Festival
Set up in 1997, the Bucheon International Comics Festival has spent the last 15 years showcasing the not only the work of Korean comic book authors but also work from all over the world.
Comic books written by children are also showcased, and visitors can take part in a competition.
Dates: August 15-19
Korea Manhwa Museum, 592-2 Sang-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province (경기도 부천시 상동 529-2); +82 32 310 3131; www.bicof.com
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5. World Taekwondo Culture Expo
With 2,000 participating athletes from 30 countries, the World Taekwondo Culture Expo comprises multiple competitions and seminars designed to educate the participants and the spectators on tae kwon do.
Watch fighters gather under the motto "Youth, Dream, Friendship, and Coexistence," and proceed to break things and high kick each other in the face.
Dates: July 6-11
Muju Dome Stadium and Muju Resort, 1199-3 Dangsan-ri, Muju-eup, Muju, North Jeolla Province (전라북도 무주 무주읍 당산리 1199-3); +82 63 320 2581; www.wtcexpo.net
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6. Ulsan Shipbuilding and Sea Festival
Set in the Ilsan beach area, which has won the award of best beach in Korea three years in a row, the Ulsan Shipbuilding & Sea Festival is one big fair of fun activities, including a fishing contest, a boat building contest, a sculpting contest and a beach volleyball tournament.
The festival is also popular with many Korean celebrities, if you're flying in on a hallyu tour.
Dates: June 28–29
Ilsan Beach Area, Ilsan-Dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan (울산특별시 동구 일산동); +82 52 265 6114; festival.donggu.ulsan.kr
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7. R-16 World B-boy Masters Championship
Whatever its reputation elsewhere, in Korea, break dancing is big, with popular musicals like "The Ballerina who loved a B-boy," and B-boy crews being hired as cultural ambassadors.
And ever since a Korean crew came home with honors from the world's biggest B-boy contest, Battle of the Year, in 2001, Korea has established itself as a break dancing powerhouse.
So it makes sense that Korea is also the host of a multilevel b-boy competition called R-16: World B-boy Masters Championship. This year's championships will be a glittering two-day event at Olympic Hall, Seoul Olympic Park, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
The actual R-16 performances and crew battles will be held on the second day, preceded by solo B-boy battles and hip-hop concerts from performers like Jay Park.
Dates: July 7-8
Olympic Hall, 89-27, Oryun-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 오륜동 89-27); +82 2 410 1683; tickets start at ₩10,000, reaching up to ₩50,000 for the best seats.
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