South Korea’s Most Famous Boryeong Mud Festival That Makes People Go Crazy

With a festival that celebrates everything from body-painting to ice-fishing, Boryeong Mud Festival has become South Korea’s one of the most well-known events dubbed as the world’s muddiest celebration. For an estimated two weeks every July, thousands of people flocks from around the Korean Peninsula to Boryeong, a small town on the Western Coast for Mudfest.

Even more, people fly in from other countries to experience mud swimming. Other activities include mud skiing, face painting, music and dance competitions, wallowing in mud, and even wrestling in mud. Nighttime activities have special attention as they include World Skin Beauty Pageant, Firework Fantasy, and Hip Hop Rave party. 

There isn’t any restriction as it’s open to the entire world to enjoy. Interestingly, tourists can purchase cosmetics made from mud from the small market along the sea and even get relaxing treatment offers from several beauty clinics. Here we’ve collated some more interesting facts that you should know about the festival, and they certainly will leave you in awe. Read on! 

Brief History 

The popular event, which now rakes in millions of dollars in revenue years, has a humble beginning. When it was first launched in 1999, it was intended to promote cosmetics made from the region’s mud as it’s high in minerals, especially germanium, bentonite, and it emits huge amounts of far-infrared rays, which are beneficial for the human skin. 

However, the festival has become a major tourist attraction, resulting in increased foreign exchange and new tourism-related business in South Korea. Previous summer, the festival attracted about 3.95mllion visitors and about 439,000 of non-Koreans. “Foreigners make the festival.” Dong-Seog, a volunteer for Boryeong Mud Festival Organization Committee, said. 

When Is The Boryeong Mud Festival?

The festival holds in July every year and lasts for two weeks. To enjoy it in all its glory, schedule your visit when the most meaningful activities will occur. Spreading through the Daecheon Beach and downtown Boryeong, the festival begins in the morning when tourists are ferried in the busload, dropped off at the beach, and doesn’t end until midnight. 

Essential Tips To Enjoy The Mud Festival 

Numerous areas require admission fees yet are equipped with mud fountains, mud massage zones, mud prison, and mud pools, all of which are guaranteed to have you looking like a mud zombie. A one-day pass will get you into all the ticketed areas and events, including mudslides, races, inflatable playgrounds, and obstacle courses. 

Tourists require attendance tickets (most go for about $10, although prices vary depending on the tourist: adult or teen and the period: weekdays or weekend). It’s best to make plans for accommodation and transportation in advance to avoid being frustrated. In addition to the merriment, many English-speaking volunteers are on hand, a campsite, basic clean-up facilities, and even free lockers.

Concern About Your Children? 

The festival reportedly has safe mud pools for children, and indeed its street parade and even foam parties are too much fun and fantastic to attend. However, as everything on the beach is full of mud, there’s a need to pack some clothes to wear after the long haul. Money and other valuables such as phones are essential, and they can out in a waterproof pouch for safety. Do you need sunscreen? Yes, sunscreen is a must-have as the sun can damage one’s skin if it’s delicate. 

Other Places To Visit During The Mud Festival 

Boryeong is home to several events, but aside from the mud festival, you can also attend the La Tomatino festival, the Seongjusan National Forest, and the Black Eagles show. It will be pretty fun to learn the Korean cultural and religious practices from some temples within Boryeong. 

Safety Measures During The Festival 

It’s advised to have appropriately organized your entrance fee of 10,000KRW, an equivalent of $9 for adults and 8,000KRW for teens. During the festival, the beach will naturally be super crowded; hence, you will ensure that your belongings are safe and that masks are on while staying within social distance. All activities do stop during lunchtime, avoid long queues at restaurants, and have early lunch before noon or late lunch at the past 1:30 p.m. 

Food prices are high, so if you’re just on a day tour, it’s best to have your meals before going to Daecheon Beach. A meal cost over 15,000 won. Likewise, the public locker room closes at 4 p.m. If you can’t fetch the things you deposited before, the sign on the door reads, you will get them the following morning. 

How To Get Boryeong/Daecheon Beach 

A bus for Boryeong leaves five times daily from Stop 09D on the 1st floor of Incheon International Airport, accessible to foreign tourists. You can either pay cash directly to a driver or purchase tickets at the terminal. If traveling from Central Seoul, there are direct buses to the Daecheon Beach from the Central City Bus Terminal that depart every hour. It will cost $50 to $80, although it varies. On the other hand, there are regular train departures from Yongsan Station, Yongmum Station, Korail train, and Yeongdeungpo Station to the Daecheon station.