● Hwacheon Tomato Festival

Location: Sachang-ri Sanae-myeon Hwacheon-gun Gangwon Province
Purpose: The purpose of this festival is to increase the value of Hwack Mountain’s tomatoes, and to revive the local economy through the festival.
Details: There are various activities every year. This year’s festival includes tomato Olympics, main stage, experience programs, display and invitation events. This year to commemorate the London Olympics, the tomato Olympics was held in Culture Village road. In the tomato Olympics, people could try soccer, handball, archery, tomato shooting and basketball. Anyone who won five games got a tomato and a certificate as a gift.
In the main events, people could participate in various events like tomato OX quiz, making a high tomato pile and tomato singing festival. Also, there were experience programs like making a tomato seedling, experiencing tomato pack, and tomato face painting. An event making wood ships was held to celebrate Dugout Canoe Festival held in Hwacheon. There were also invitation events, including handwriting, wood painting, making natural soap, etc.
In front of the entrance, staff gave out leaflets and tomatoes to advertise tomatoes. There were lots of events that people could experience on their own and also some pools for children, so it is a good festival to visit with family. Also, in the festival, there were many restaurants and kinds of food, so it was convenient for people.
● Gamseong Village

Location: 799 Damok-ri Sangseo-myeon Gangwon Province
Details: Gamseong village is the place where writer Lee Oi-soo stays when he writes. Gamseong village is surrounded by dense forest and mountains. When visitors approach the village, they can hear the sound of water flowing through the valley. It makes visitors feel comfortable and cozy.
In this village, nature is the master, not people. After a being there, visitors can go home with much clearer senses. In the village, there is a famous event called ‘Oiljang’ that lasts for five days. Here, ‘Jang’ means a ‘chapter’, not a ‘market’. For 5 days, there are several events like a writing contest, UCC contest exhibit, making pottery, making flower postcards, and making tiles.
Also, on August 9, UlalaSession, a famous Korean band, performed on Boonau Island. On August 12, the Literature Museum of Lee Oi-soo opened. Passing the Gamseong Bridge located in front of the village entrance, you see the arch-shaped roof which holds gourds. On the road toward the museum, there are smooth stones where Lee Oi-soo’s writes stories.
In the Literature Museum of Lee Oi-soo, you can see his writings, squared manuscript paper and paintings he drew.
● Tips
· How to get Tomato festival: Follow the small valley behind the Sanae-myeon office to get to the festival area.
· There is no way to go from Daegu to Gangwon Province directly, so you have to use either a bus or train. If you take a bus from Daegu Northern Bus Terminal, you can arrive at Chuncheon Bus Terminal 30 minutes earlier than using Dongdaegu Bus Terminal.
Many various festivals like Mountain Trout Festival, Bimok Cultural Festival, Dugout Canoe Festival, and Tomato Festival are held in Hwacheon. Gangwon-province is far from here, but if you want to enjoy exciting Hwacheon, don’t hesitate to pack your bags and go there!