In Jeongok-ri, Geumgangsong-myeon, Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, the 5th Jeongok-ri Durup Festival — celebrating durup (aralia shoots), a beloved spring wild vegetable — runs for three days from April 30 through May 2.
Under the slogan "The most delicious spring is happening now — right here in Jeongok-ri!", the festival spotlights local farm goods and a lineup of hands-on experiences designed to delight food and nature lovers alike.
Visitors can shop farm-fresh produce straight from growers, including durup. Roll up your sleeves for a wild-vegetable bibimbap workshop and tasting, learn to make chewy chaltteok (sticky rice cakes), or stroll scenic forest trails. Families will find plenty of traditional games and interactive activities to enjoy together.
The cultural program features a lively mix of events: karaoke contests, intimate concerts, and saxophone and harmonica performances. Community-focused activities — like a village-specialty auction, straw-rope braiding contests, and jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking) — invite both locals and tourists to join in the fun.
More than a food fair, the festival offers hands-on rural experiences and a taste of local hospitality, promising spring visitors to Uljin memories that linger long after the weekend ends.
To make getting there easy, a shuttle bus will run between the Uljin-eup Forest Cooperative and the Jeongok-ri festival site. The shuttle departs Uljin-eup at 9:30 a.m. and leaves Jeongok-ri at 5:00 p.m.
Park Jae-yong, head of Uljin County’s forestry division, said, "We hope many people will come out to enjoy seasonal durup and the festival's hands-on programs." He added, "We expect the event to boost local agricultural sales and help revive tourism."
