Monday, July 24, 2017

#6: PYEONGCHANG : HYO SEOK CULTURAL FESTIVAL


Hello guys! I'm back with a new topic in July and I hope you guys enjoy reading my posts till now. Today's post is a little different where I won't write about stadium anymore but the festival that is going to happen very soon in Pyeongchang. 

As you all know, Pyeongchang is the hosting city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. There are actually may things to explore in Pyeongchang, you will be amazed with endless flower field and the great novel from this beautiful village by Lee Hyo Seok (1907-1942). Hyo Seok Cultural Festival is held to commemorate modern Korean writer Lee Hyo Seok and his popular novel ˹When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom˼, which demonstrates the connection between human life and beauty of nature through the dazzling scenery of Bongpyeong. The Festival offers various participatory programs such as poem exhibition, literature night, Hyo Seok essay contest, nature experiences (e.g. fingernail coloring using balsam), buckwheat food cooking, and many more. Furthermore, visitors may tour Lee Hyo Seok’s birthplace and memorial hall.




Lee Hyo Seok 李孝石 (1907-1942), who wrote under the pen-name 'Gasan' was born February 23, 1907 in Pyeongchang, Gangwon- do. Lee wrote more than 70 pieces of fiction and first attracted attention of the literary world in 1928 when his story ˹City and Ghost˼ was published in 
<Joseon Jigwang>1. Lee published many other works including ˹Unanticipated Meeting˼, ˹Shattered Red Lantern˼ and ˹At Sea Near Russia˼, all of which reflected his socialist sympathies. 
˹When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom˼ is set in Lee's hometown Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun and the area is still famous for its buckwheat production.
1 Joseon Jigwang (Light of Korea) is the monthly magazine (1922-1930) claiming to support racial movement. It mostly featured academic essay and literary work.

The festival is an open event where the admission to this festival is free and the festival will be held from 2-10 September 2017. The address is 157, Ihyoseok-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do. and you can take an intercity bus to Jangpyeong Intercity Bus Terminal. From Jangpyeong Terminal, take a local bus bound for Bongpyeong or Phoenix Park shuttle bus. 

Late Mr Lee Hyo Seok wrote a novel titled 'When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom', left a writing on the beauty of the Bongpyeong which is the place he grew up and his hometown where appears frequently in his novels. The purpose of this festival is to commemorates 

Lee Hyo-seok's novel and offers a chance for visitors to tour Lee Hyo-seok's 
birthplace and memorial hall.


Story 1 ˹When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom˼ (1936)

Mr. Heo, a lonely Jangdolbaengi (장돌뱅이: vendors who move around the 5 days market mainly in Pyeongchang, Yeongwol and Jecheon area) lost all the money at gamble and moved to Bongpyeong market place in Pyeongchang with his best buddy, Mr. Cho. They met young jangdolbaengi guy, Dong-I over there and decided to move to the other market place together. 

While they walked through the buckwheat flower field in the night time, Mr. Heo talked about his lifetime love he had met 20 years ago in Bongpyeong market when he was a young Jangdolbaengi. It was a night that buckwheat flowers bloomed just like a “scattered salts” on the field.

Lee Hyo Seok Culture Village and Lee Hyo Seok Cultural Hall


Lee Hyo Seok Culture Village and Lee Hyo Seok Cultural Hall Lee Hyo Seok Culture Village is the place where the author Lee Hyo Seok was born and raised. The village is also the setting of the author’s story ˹When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom˼, one of the most celebrated Korean short stories to date. In 1990, the village place was designated ‘first national cultural village’ by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The village is comprised of the author's birth house, a water mill, Chungjujip, Gasan Park, Lee Hyo Seok Memorial Hall, and a buckwheat museum. At the height of the blossoming season, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of snow-white fields of buckwheat flowers and from late August to early September, the annual Lee Hyo Seok Cultural Festival takes place.



The literary house consists of the Literature Exhibition (chronology of Lee Hyo Seok’s works), Literary Class, Art Research, Creative Idea Room, and a Theater for literary plays. There is also a mock-up of the old Bongpyeong Marketplace and videos for children, as well as a number of different activities. The facility houses valuable documents such as the author’s first printed newspaper, magazine, and book publications. In addition to its deep literary significance, the
house is known for its exquisite exterior, Literary Garden, and buckwheat flower trail.
  • Admission / Participation fees: Adults 2,000 won / Middle & High school students 1,500 won / Elementary school students 1,000 won
  • Address: 73-25, Hyoseongmunhak-gil, Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
  • Operating hours: November-April 0900-1800 / May-October 0900-1900
Bongpyeong 5 days Market


Bongpyeong Market opens on days with ‘2’ and ‘7’ with the interval offive days. Recently, buckwheat without fail, has been the top product in the market. From buckwheat noodles, buckwheat pancake, buckwheat crepe, buckwheat steamed bun, buckwheat noodles hotpot,
buckwheat bibimbap and more, a variety of buckwheat-relatedfoods can be found in this market.


  • Market Opening Dates: Every 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd & 27th
  • Address: 14-1, Dongijangteo-gil, Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Story 2 Traditional Market Revitalization Project with Hyundai Card


Bongpyeong Market Project in 2014 conserved the basic infrastructure of the market and adopted exterior design in each shop under the slogan of “Development for Sustainability”, encouraging merchants to strive for change.

As Bongpyeong Market draws in as many as 5,000 people with its more than 100 stores during peak season, Hyundai Card designed and installed standardized canopy tents and stands for all the stores to create an organized aesthetic and provide more space for visitors.


A newly designed logo is at the entrance of the market.

A rest spot is established at Bongpyeong.

That's all for this post. Hope you guys enjoy reading and now know a little about Hyo Seok Cultural Festival! Now you can plan a trip to experience the festival. Thank you so much for dropping by and I will back with next post! 


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