Do you want to experience attending a festival in Korea? If you are a beef lover then you should definitely attend the Hoengseong Hanu Festival in Gangwon.
About Heongseong Hanu Festival
Heongseong Hanu Festival is an annual festival which features and highlights the worldโs famous hanu or Korean beef. Its original name was Hoengseong Taepoong Cultural Festival but was changed in 2004 to its current name. This festival aims to promote the consumption of Korean beef that is made in Hoengseong. It provides opportunities for the festival attendees to try hanu as well as experience agricultural programs in the province.
The Hoengseong cattle market is actually one of the four major cattle markets in Korea. A Korean beef from Hoengseong hanu is rich in juices that gives a good flavor and soft texture of the meat. It is because their are grown with a clean environment and clear waters. The climate and environment at Hoengseong makes it a perfect place to raise a cattle. Thus, people from all over the country and even abroad get their premium beef from there.
Hoengseong Hanu Festival Events
Hanu Tasting and Other Food Exhibitions
The highlight of attending Hoengseong Hanu Festival is the opportunity to taste hanu. There are various food stands and booths at the venue of the festival where you can buy and have taste of this premium Korean beef at a reasonable price. The price averages from 10,000 to 15,000 Korean won per 100g and it is even lower than the market price of hanu. Some sellers are even offering free taste of their products.
Aside from that, there are also country-style restaurants at the festival which sells various food including local delicacies and specialties of Gangwon-do at affordable price. There were a lot of visitors when we went and most of the restaurants were occupied. Maybe because it was during the weekend. But even though the weather was humid, you could see that many people really wanted to have a taste of hanu and are even buying raw beff that they could cook in their houses later.
Live Performances
In addition, there are also live performances to entertain the visitors of the of the festival. When I went in 2019, there were dance and singing performances from the elderly people. I think it was my first time to hear a trot performance live. It was such a nice thing to see because you could see that they are really having fun while performing on stage.
Hoengseong Hanu National Wrestling Championship
They also usually hold the Hoengseong Hanu National Wrestling Championship during the festival.
Hanu Beef Cooking Contest
Part of the festival as well is the Hanu Beef Cooking Contest which showcases the talent of the locals in cooking dishes using hanu.
Agriculture Experience
Additionally, there is also a ranch experience center near the event venue where visitors can experience traditional games and agricultural society cultures. You can try oxcart riding, field plowing, and other agricultural experiences.
Hanu Rodeo
There is also a hanu rodeo that adds flavor and excitement to the whole festival.
Hanu Photo Zones and Exhibitions
And lastly, a festival wouldnโt be complete without its photo zones and exhibitions scattered around the venue.
Event Details
Inclusive Dates
Hoengseong Hanu Festival usually runs for a week by end of October to first week of November. In 2020, the festival was held online from October 15 to 30.
Venue Details
The festival takes place in Hoengseong, Gangwon. To get there, ride an inter-city bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Hoengseong Intercity Bus Terminal. From the terminal, take a taxi for approximately 7 minutes.
The venue also offers access to nearby attractions such as Hoengseong Hot Springs and Jucheongang River Natural Forest Lodge.ย Other famous tourist spot to visit in Gangwon province is the Nami Island.
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