[Photo from visitkorea.or.kr

Busan’s beautiful port city of Daebyeonhang Port sees the richest harvest of anchovies in Korea, especially in the months of April and May, and therefore holds the Busan Gijang Anchovy Festival during this period. Daebyeonghang Port is also the film location for the 2001 box office hit movie featuring Jang Dong Gun and Yu Osung. The scene where Jang Dong Gun reminisces about his childhood memory of swimming in the ocean near a lighthouse while smoking a cigarette was filmed at this very location. The beautiful clear sea decorated with a lighthouse is not only popular during the Anchovy Festival, but is also a popular tourist attraction all year round.

Event Programs: As a symbol of the fact that the festival is held by the sea, the Gijang Anchovy Festival begins with a fishermen’s parade around the port while carrying nets and other fishing equipment, while the fishermen themselves dress up in traditional fishing outfits which are white Hanbok. Gijang Anchovy Festival also offers rich seafood dishes, and visitors can enjoy the most fresh anchovy hoe (raw fish) in the area during its peak season. Pickled anchovy with seaweed is also a popular dish, and cuttlefish and cutless fish are also popular spring catches of Daebyeonhang. An outdoor food market offers a variety of hoe (raw fish) dishes, soups, and baked foods at moderate prices with an incredible view of the ocean.

At night, a musical performance is held with music, singing, and dancing, adding to the evening's excitement. For even more fun, colorful fireworks light up the sky and give pleasure to the evening events. The Gijang Anchovy Festival is smaller in scale and simpler compared to other festivals, but it doesn’t diminish the spirit of fun at one of Korea’s cleanest ocean villages.

Festival Highlights: For Korean movie fans, watch the 2001 box office hit to add more enjoyment to your trip. Comparing the red lighthouse and Daebyeonhang’s clean ocean waters to the scenes in the movie offers another sort of fun. Of course, the Anchovy Festival is fun as well if you don’t end up watching the movie. Buying a freshly caught fish and having it served on the spot is definitely the highlight of the festival.

Address: Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan-si

Location: Daebyeonhang Port

Telephone: • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-51-709-4502 (Korean)

Admission/Participation Fees: Free

Age Limit: Open to visitors of all ages.

Transportation: Centum City Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 6. Transfer to Bus 181 and get off at the entrance of Daebyeonhang Port. (Estimated travel time: 1 hour)

Homepage: english.gijang.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)