16 Fun Things To Do This July in Korea

sinchon water gun festival
Credits: Republic of Korea

The summer is finally heating up as we enter the month of July. Although the weather is getting hotter, there are many water festivals where you can cool off and other events happening all around Korea that will definitely make this year’s July a month to remember!

My Name is Anne Exhibition | Sungdong-gu, Seoul 

Date: 6.28 – 10.31 

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The ‘My Name is ANNE of Green Gables’ is an exhibition featuring installations that were contemporarily reinterpreted from the classic novel, Anne of Green Gables. The exhibition features artwork interpreting Anne’s character, animation, installations, and music. This is a place perfect for taking pictures, maybe for your next Instagram post! 

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Date: June 27, 2019 – July 7, 2019

july south korea bucheon fantastic film festival poster things to do in korea

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival is back this summer for its 23rd edition. This film festival is South Korea’s largest annual genre film festival. It is known as a Mecca of the film culture in Korea and it combines animations, cartoons, games, and films. Featuring 288 films from 49 countries this year, BiFan will screen classics, Korean genre movies, and more at Bucheon city.

Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival 2019 | Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 

Date: July 5 – July 14

Buyeo seodong lotus festival south korea things to do july

The Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is a week-long festival celebrating the blossoming of the lotus flowers. The festival includes an opening performance, celebratory performance, the birth of King Mu, and the Seodong Seonhwa Impact Show. There are also other interactive activities you can enjoy like origami classes, DOI make your own lotus flower soap and lotus leaf-shaped candles to create memorable souvenirs.

Sinchon Water Gun Festival 2019 | Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Date: July 6 – July 7

sinchon water gun festival korea things to do in july
Credits: Republic of Korea

The Sinchon Water Gun Festival is back! This year’s theme is “Retake the Kingdom.” This massive water gun fight happens on Yonsei-ro, near Yonsei University. Not only is it just a water gun fight, but also a party featuring performances by DJs and busking by street performers. Make sure to bring your own water gun, or buy one nearby at the venue. 

Waterbomb Festival | Busan and Seoul

Date: July 13 (Busan), July 20 – July 21 (Seoul)

The Waterbomb Festival is an event combining water fights and a music festival. This festival is held in 6 cities:  Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu and Gwangju

In July, the Waterbomb Festival is held in Seoul and Busan. At the festival, you are divided into 2 different teams that will fight each other at “Team Battle Water Fighting,” and you can choose your team depending on your favorite artist when you buy the tickets. There will also be water cannons throwing waterbombs at the crowd, making sure that nobody leaves dry. 

The festival provides a variety of music from K-pop, EDM, to hip-hop by well-known artists like Simon Dominic, ZICO, Mike Perry, Say My Name, Chunagha, pH-1, and many more. 

Bohemian Rhapsody: The Queen Exhibition | Jongno-gu, Seoul

Date: July 7 – October 6 

Bohemian Rhapsody Queen World Tour Exhibition ARA art center South Korea Seoul

Celebrating the 49th anniversary of British sensational rock band ‘Queen,’ Queen Production LTD is holding the very first Queen exhibition in Seoul at the ARA Art Center.

This exhibition is open from July 7th, and goes through the history of the band and a collection of Freddie Mercury’s personal items. There will also be other art installations by media artists showing a reinterpretation of Queen’s songs accompanying the collection, so visit the world of Queen this July. 

The Color Run Seoul 2019 | Songpa-gu, Seoul 

Date: July 13th 

the color run love tour south korea seoul jamsil july things to do events
Credits: The Color Run

The Color Run is also known as ‘The Happiest 5K on the Planet’  and is the largest running festival in the world. Get plastered with different colored powder as you run through each kilometer mark. Once you finish the course, you will realize you are covered in vibrant colors, and get doused in even more at the ending festival. 

The Color Run event is open to everyone – there is no ranking or timing system so that everyone can enjoy this experience.

Hangang Mongddang Summer Festival | Hangang Parks, Seoul 

Dates: July 17th ~ August 18th 

hangang mongddang summer festival things to do in han river south korea seoul summer
Copyrights (c) KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION

July also marks the launch of the Hangang Mongddang Summer Festival! The festival is a 31-day long project run by the City of Seoul to provide over 80 events and fun activities at the Han River parks. Some events include the Hangang Waterfight Festival, Move Night under the Bridge, Hangang Jazz Festival, Nakhwa Fire Circus performance, Paper Boat Racing Competition, and more! 

Our article “Best Summer Activities and Events on the Han River” highlights some of the activities you can participate in. For more detailed information on the different events from Hangang Mongddang Summer Festival, visit their official website

Daegu Chimac Festival | Daegu City, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Date: July 17 – July 21 

daegu chimak chimaek festival south korea summer july chicken beer

The Daegu Chimac Festival brings all chimac (term for eating chicken and beer) lovers together every July at Daegu’s Duryu Park. The festival welcomed over 1,000,000 visitors in previous years and hosted 100 joints and brands related to chicken and beer. There will also be performances by Korean artists as well known as Davichi, Mommy Son, and more. With eating contests, a large grass area for picnics, water stages, performances, and an ice room, show that the summer heat won’t stop you from eating all the chicken and maekju (beer) you want! 

Boryeong Mud Festival 2019 | Boryeong City, Chungcheong-do

Dates: July 19-28 

south korea boryeong mud festival summer july events things to do
Copyright © BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL

Embrace getting covered in mud to escape the summer heat! The Boryeong Mud Festival is popular not only to locals but also to many international visitors. There will be activities like mud wrestling, mud sliding, a marine mud training course, and mud bath. An event for everyone, family can also take kids to Mud Kid’s Land. 

Nonsan Tomato Festival | Nonsan City, Chungcheongnam-do

nonsan city tomato festival chungcheongnamdo july events south korea

Inspired by the La Tomatina festival in Spain and water gun fights, Nonsan City is holding a festival where you can participate in their large-scale tomato fight with locally grown tomatoes. This festival also features other hands-on activities like cooking using tomatoes and making tomato champagne. 

Other events include a balloon parade, kids tomato cooking competition, waterslides, and music performances that will provide a memorable July weekend for everyone.

Seoul Illustration Fair vol.7 | Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Date: July 25 – July 28

The Seoul Illustration Fair showcases artists that are involved in illustration, graphic design, calligraphy, typography, and other related genres. With more than 700 artists participating, you might end up finding an artwork of your taste! 

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival 2019 | Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do

Date: July 26 – August 8

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival is a weeklong festival. Participate in the water gun fights and water parades. The festival also introduces you to experience water sports like canoes, banana boats, fly boards, wooden rafts, and more. 

Jisan Rock Festival 2019 | Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Date: July 26th – 28th 

2019 jisan rock festival jisan forest resort music festival south korea summer july

The Jisan Rock Festival is an annual music festival from July 26th to the 28th at Jisan Forest Resort. Some of the featured band this year are Australian rock band King Gizzard & Lizard Wizard, ADOY, Galaxy Express, Guckkasten, Daybreak, and DickPunks. 

This festival does not only feature rock bands – listen and dance to EDM and hip hop at the Jisan Rock Festival Pool Party, and camp and relax at the Camping Zone.

Held at a venue surrounded by nature, enjoy one of your July weekends accompanied with music and the fresh-air environment. 

2019 Busan International Rock Festival | Sasang-gu, Busan

Date: July 27 – July 28

2019 busan international rock festival july things to do south korea

Get ready to Rock n’ Roll with some of your favorite artists at the 2019 Busan International Rock Festival! Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Busan International Rock Festival has become one of Korea’s longest running festivals. There will be performances from both Korean and international artists. Some of the well-known Korean artists in the line-up are god, Kim Feel, and Akdong Musician. 

Bonghwa Euneo (Sweetfish) Festival | Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Date: July 27 – August 4

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The Bonghwa Euneo (Sweetfish) Festival is back for its 2019 season. The Naeseongcheon stream in Bonghwa is considered to be one of the most environmentally pure with nearby mountains and trees. Challenge yourself and see if you can catch a sweetfish in the stream, and feast on your catches!

This festival also has performances and other attractions like the Korean Currency Museum, sweetfish painting, ceramic, hanji handicraft, and more. Escape from melting in the heat by jumping into Bonghwa’s Naeseoncheon stream!