Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung palaces’s nightime admission will end Aug. 27 (Changgyeonggung) and Aug. 28 (Gyeongbokgung), so if you haven’t visited them yet, please do so this week.

VENUE: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace
DATES: Gyeongbokgung: Aug. 12-28 (closed on Aug. 18, Aug. 25), Changgyeonggung: Aug. 11-27 (closed Aug. 17, Aug. 24). 7:30-10:00 PM (entry ends at 9:00 PM)
ADMISSION: KRW 3,000 for Gyeongbokgung, KRW 1,000 fo Changgyeonggung. IMPORTANT! Koreans should reserve a ticket ahead of time (go here and here). Foreigners, however, can get tickets on-site on a first-come, first-serve basis (200 tickets a day at Gyeongbokgung, 100 tickets a day at Changgyeonggung).
MORE INFO: See this link.
GETTING THERE: See this map.

Silk Road Cultural Festival in Gyeongju 2015

The Silk Road Cultural Festival in Gyeongju seeks to foster understanding of Eurasian culture and promote international exchanges through exhibits, cultural performances and more. In particular, check out the Silk Road Grand Bazaar, where some 20 Eurasian nations have come together to present their traditional architecture, food, crafts and performing arts. The event also makes a great opportunity to explore the historic city of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935). Don’t miss the Special Exhibit of Golden Shilla Artifacts at the Gyeongju National Museum, featuring 460 artifacts including the beautiful Gilt-bronze Maitreya in Meditation, National Treasure of Korea No. 83.

VENUE: Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park and surrounding area
PERIOD: Thru Oct. 18
MORE INFO: See this link.
GETTING THERE: See here.

Hesse’s Drawing Exhibition: A Travel to Myself

While he’s best known as a Nobel Prize-winning poet and novelist, Hermann Hesse was also an accomplished painter and drawer. This exhibit features some 500 of his 2,500 drawings, including 150 which have been projected on big screens using HD projectors, turning the entire space into a canvas. The German-born Swiss cultural giant, whose work explored themes such as self-knowledge and spirituality, is one of the most widely read European authors of the 20th century, with works such as “Steppenwolf” and “Siddhartha” attaining particular popularity with the rise of the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

VENUE: War Memorial of Korea
PERIOD: Thru Nov. 1
MORE INFO: T. 02-540-0329
ADMISSION: Free
GETTING THERE: Samgakji Station (Line 6), Exit 12

RAS-KB Excursion: Donggang River Rafting

Join the RAS as it takes an adventurous rafting tour along the scenic Donggang River in Gangwon-do. The Donggang is a serpentine, 60 kilometer-long stream flowing through rugged limestone terrain in mountainous Gangwon province’s Yeongweol, Pyeongchang, and Jeongseon counties. Besides boasting breathtaking scenery, the Donggang is an ecological jewel – it is the only remaining virgin territory in South Korea, boasting a wealth of rare flora and fauna. It is often compared to Guilin in China, a world famous tourist destination owing to its picturesque limestone mountains; however, the Dong River retains a more pristine and serene atmosphere, according to tourist experts.

VENUE: Donggang River, Gangwon-do
DATE: Aug. 29
MORE INFO: See here.
PRICE: KRW 83,000-99,600
GETTING THERE: See link above.

2015 Pentaport

Pentaport is the conglomeration of “Airport, Seaport, Teleport, Business-port, and Leisure-port” to bring you the best of the 80’s and 90’s music and culture of Korea. Largest concert of its kind, don’t miss this chance to travel back in time.

VENUE: Incheon Songdo Pentaport Park
PERIOD: Aug 7-9, 10:00AM~11:00PM
ADMISSION: KRW 130,000-220,000 (refer to websiite for details)
MORE INFO: http://pentaportrock.com/

The Techno Temple with Takaaki Itoh

Gowl presents “The Techno Temple with Takaaki Itoh” at Club Vurt, so get your Saturday Night Fever on with live music and good times.

VENUE: Club Vurt
DATE: Aug 8, 10:00PM
ADMISSION: KRW 20,000
MORE INFO: http://vurtkr.flavors.me

Festivals

Fire Festival Korea

Seoul is holding a fire festival, so get in on all the fiery action. This 1st-annual Fire Festival Korea will feature Fire Gala Shows, Flow Arts, and Circus workshops with talents artists from all around.

VENUE: Somesevit, Banpo Hangang Park
PERIOD: Aug 7-9, Time TBD
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FireFestivalKorea/

Expositions/Exhibits

Halal Expo Korea 2015

After placing emphasis on developing Halal markets initiated by President Park on the 2015 State of Union Message, the Korean government has established the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UAE on the cooperation of agriculture and Halal Food.

VENUE: COEX 3rd floor, Hall C
PERIOD: Aug 7-9, 10:00AM~05:00PM
ADMISSION: Free for pre-registration, KRW 5,000 at door
MORE INFO: http://www.halalexpokorea.co.kr/eng/visit/info.php

Travel/Exploration

Organic Farm Experience

This is part of a series of Korean farm and countryside experience. You’ll be taken around unique places where you’ll be able to experience farm life, first-hand. Learn to cultivate various kinds of fruits and veggies while you’re there!

VENUE: Gochang countryside
DATE: Aug 8, 7:00AM
COST: KRW 56,000
MORE INFO: http://gohtravelkorea.net

Deserted Island Beach Camping

The hot days of summer are here and what better way to spend it than on a beach enjoying the sun and water? Not only that, the beach happens to be on a deserted island that is all yours for the weekend! Are you ready?

VENUE: Incheon Ferry Terminal
DATE: Aug 8, 8:00AM
COST: KRW 82,000
MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/WinKTravels/events

The Elegant Wisdom of the Joseon Tradition

Changdeokgung Palace was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997 and is a definitive historical landmark in Korean Palace architecture. It is a symbol of national pride and global acknowledgement, and this event aims to create more awareness of its uniqueness and relevance pertaining to the overall Joseon palace.

VENUE: WCO Seoul Office, Anguk Building
DATE: Aug 8, 7:00-9:00PM
COST: TBD
MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/events/1594069060854394/