This weekend in Korea, Oct 31-Nov 1: 5 events from Seoul to Yeosu

Five picks for Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, from Seoul to the sea in Yeosu.

1. Jeongdong Culture Night (Seoul)

• Why go: Once a year the historic Jeongdong area beside Deoksugung Palace keeps its churches, museums and old buildings open late, with street music along the stone-wall road and a craft market.
• When: Fri Oct 30, 6 pm to 10 pm, and Sat Oct 31, 2 pm to 10 pm. On Saturday at 4:10 pm, the outdoor yard of the National Jeongdong Theater has a traditional tightrope show and a taekkyeon (Korean martial art) team.
• Cost: The official venue list shows fees for only a few places. Deoksugung Palace costs 1,000 won (free for ages 24 and under and 65+), last entry 8 pm.
• Getting there: City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2), Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2) or Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5). The road from Daehanmun Gate to the Jeongdong fountain is closed to cars, and there is no festival parking.
• Info: official site in Korean and English (below)

2. Busan Global Webtoon Festival (Busan)

• Why go: The 10th festival of webtoons, Korea's digital comics: exhibitions, live drawing and talks with artists from Korea and abroad.
• When: Oct 30 to Nov 1, 10 am to 7 pm (Busan City's event page). One leaflet page lists the exhibition from noon, so after 12 pm is safest. On Saturday at the Busan Cultural Content Complex (1F): a webtoon battle drawing at noon, a talk with overseas artists (Taiwan, Japan, the US and France) in the early afternoon, and Busan English radio's live show "Webtoon Meets Music!" at 3 pm.
• Cost: Free admission.
• Getting there: 140 Suyeonggangbyeon-daero, Haeundae-gu. Use Kakao Map or Naver Map.
• Info: +82-51-749-9134

3. Hongseong Global BBQ Festival (South Chungcheong)

• Why go: Pork roasted over charcoal for 18 hours, beef and chicken over open fire for 5 hours, and grills built like a Ferris wheel or a Viking ship, around the walls of Hongjuseong Fortress. The official site has an English leaflet.
• When: Oct 29 to Nov 1, 10 am to 9 pm. Saturday 5 pm: "Grill Sound" concert on the main stage (CHERISH, Bobbypins, DAYBREAK). Sunday 5 pm: "Lingering Echoes" concert, then about 7 minutes of fireworks at 7:20 pm.
• Cost: The official page lists no entry fee. You pay for the food at each booth.
• Getting there: From Hongseong Station, a festival shuttle runs every 15 minutes to Joyangmun Gate. The first bus leaves the station at 9:30 am, and the last one back leaves Joyangmun at 9:47 pm.
• Info: call center +82-41-630-1150

4. Yuseong Chrysanthemum Festival (Daejeon)

• Why go: Last weekend of Daejeon's autumn flower show: chrysanthemum sculptures (an Eiffel Tower, the Hanbit Tower, the robot Taekwon V), an aster garden and cosmos paths in Yurim Park, lit up after dark.
• When: Until Sun Nov 1. Saturday: busking from 2:30 to 4 pm and an outdoor cinema from 7 to 9 pm. On weekends, craft booths (chrysanthemum candles, soap, keyrings) and a caricature-drawing robot run from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Cost: The official notice and leaflet list no admission fee.
• Getting there: 27 Eoeun-ro, Yuseong-gu. Take Daejeon Subway Line 1 to Wolpyeong Station and walk about 13 minutes. Buses stop at Yurim Park and Yuseong-gu Office.
• Info: Yuseong-gu Office, +82-42-611-2683

5. Yeosu Night Sea Fireworks Festival (South Jeolla)

• Why go: One night only: an overseas team and a Korean team fire shows over the sea at the Yeosu Expo site.
• When: Sat Oct 31, 7 pm to 9:10 pm. Opening ceremony 7:45 pm. Fireworks part 1 (overseas team) 8 to 8:12 pm, part 2 (Korean team) 8:20 to 8:35 pm.
• Cost: Free.
• Getting there: City bus No. 2 adds extra runs between Yeosu Expo Station and the Odongdo entrance, and its last bus moves from 10:30 pm to 11 pm that night. Nine parking lots (2,393 spaces) are free.
• Info: Yeosu City, 1899-2012

Tips for the weekend

• Fireworks nights (Yeosu on Saturday, Hongseong on Sunday) get crowded. Pick your spot early and check your last train or bus home before the show.
• Programs can change with the weather; check the official page that morning.

Going alone?

On omeetu you can open a meetup from a nearby meetup spot: Seoul Station / Namdaemun for Jeongdong, Centum City for the webtoon festival, Gung-dong / Yuseong for the chrysanthemums and Yeosu Expo Station for the fireworks. For Hongseong, open one from a Seoul or Daejeon spot and travel together. Meet first in a busy public place, and keep chats inside the app.

Numbers to keep

• On the day, use the info line under each festival.
• Emergency: 112 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance). Travel help in English and other languages: 1330.

Official pages: Jeongdong Culture Night · Busan Global Webtoon Festival · Hongseong Global BBQ Festival · Yuseong Chrysanthemum Festival · Yeosu Fireworks