If you are planning a trip to South Korea around the new years, then don’t miss out on the New Year Sunrise Festivals! The sights of sunrise are simply majestic, gorgeous, and breathtaking as you welcome the new year with the rising sun!
As the December comes to an end, people gather together for different festivals including the New Year Sunrise Festivals all across the country. These festivals are hosted in spots that are perfect to say goodbye to the setting sun of the last year and welcoming the rising sun of the new year!
Seongsan Sunrise Festival
You can join in the Seongsan Sunrise Festival on Jeju Island that takes place annually on the Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone. It is also known as the “Sunrise Peak” for obvious reasons. The festival also features several parades, fireworks shows, performances, and many other events. You can enjoy the local delicacy, tteokguk, the rice cake soup, during the festival.
This natural sunrise festival on the even of new year aims to spread the natural values of the Seoungsan Ilchulbong Peak and to share the traditional culture with the visitors. You can see off the old year and welcome the new year in with some artistic-theme cultural events at the peak. The traditions haven’t changed since the first sunrise that was recorded in the Palman Daejanggyeong in the Goryeo dynasty.
Duration: December 30, 2020 – January 1, 2021
Where: Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone
Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival
You can observe the earliest sunrise in Korea from the Ganjeolgot Cape in Ulsan. Enjoy the first sunrise of the new year in the Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival along with a whole range of events that include fireworks, performances, and eating delicious Korean food. As the sun rises, you will be able to see people standing with their hands clasped together and making a wish.
While you are in teh Ganjeolgot Cape, you can also enjoy the nearby attractions like oddly shaped rock formations, thick pine groves, and the Oegosan Onggi Village.
Duration: Undecided for 2020 although it generally starts at sunset on December 31.
Where: Ganjeolgot Lighthouse
Homigot Sunrise Festival
The Homigot Sunrise Plaza is one of th emost popular places in South Korea to watch the New Year’s sunrise. The brilliant golden and yellow scenery complements the sunrise. Homigot Sunrise Festival also includes various other events like performances and fireworks along with a ‘Serving tteokguk‘ event that can feed up to 10,000 people.
Homigot Village is in the easternmost point of the Korean Peninsula and the village name translates to “village on a tiger’s tail.” This is the place where you can witness the first sunrise in South Korea.
Duration: Canceled for 2020
Where: Homigot Sunrise Plaza
Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival
Jeongdongjin Beach has an iconic large sandglass and the Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival is set around it. It takes one full year for the sand in the sandglass in the top section to completely fall into the bottom cone. As the clock strikes midnight, the sandglass is turned over again for the New Year. While you are at the beach, you can see the flipping of the sandglass along with the fireworks and performances in a grand ceremony.
The sandglass at the beach measures 8.06 meters in diameter and 3.2 meters wide. It holds 8 tons of sand and weighs 40 tons. It is one of the biggest sandglass in the world.
Duration: Limited for 2020
Where: Sandglass Park at Jeongdongjin Beach
Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival
The annual Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival offers visitor gorgeous views of the New Year’s sunrise along with hosting several other events like candle ceremony and the lighting of wish lanterns.
This New Year Sunrise festival takes place in the Hyangiram Hermitage that was built in teh year 644. The name of the hermitage literally translates to “a hermitage facing the sun”. You can see the sure rise above the horizon from Hyangiram.
Duration: Undecided for 2020
Where: Hyangiram Hermitage
Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival
Gyeongpo Beach is quite popular amongst tourists as it is quite a beautiful beach. You can see the beach in different lights throughout the year. On the eve of New Year, people gather at the beach to celebrate the Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival and wait for the first sunrise of the new year. At night, there are firework celebrations and an array of other cultural events that you can enjoy.
You can also enjoy other attractions in the region like the Gyeongpodae Pavillion.
Duration: December 31, 2020 – January 1, 2021
Where: Gyeongpo Beach
Join the countdown and welcome the New Year at these New Year Sunrise Festivals in Korea. Enjoy watching the golden sun rising over the beautiful sky and let us all wish for a great year ahead! New beginnings are always exciting!
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