Why You Can't Miss the Ulsan Onggi Festival: Top Attractions and Must-Try Foods!

Danbi Kim | 2026.05.03

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[Anchor] The Onggi Festival is in full swing in Ulju County, Ulsan — the region known as the home of onggi pottery. The event is drawing crowds with eye-catching displays, tasty local food and plenty of hands-on activities. We’re connected now to our reporter on the scene. Kim Dan-bi, what’s the mood like? [Reporter] I’m here at Onggi Village in Ulju County, where the Onggi Festival is underway. Today (the 2nd) is the festival’s second day, and holiday crowds have filled the grounds. Now in its 26th year, this edition — themed “Welcome to Onggi Village” — offers a wide mix of programs. You can make your own onggi, cozy up to the kiln fires for some fire-gazing, and join hands-on workshops. Let’s hear from a visitor. 「Kim Byung-geun, Kim Ha-yul / Nam-gu, Ulsan」 “There are so many activity booths and things to do, so I brought the kids and my niece from Seoul. (We’re making cups, and it’s really fun.)” The festival also runs a local food zone. Onggi samgyeopsal—pork belly grilled using onggi pots—is a standout specialty you’ll only find at this festival. Visitors can also enjoy a procession, drone shows, fireworks and other performances. Oegosan Onggi Village in Ulsan is the nation’s largest onggi production center, producing about 50% of Korea’s onggi. Between the 1960s and 1970s, roughly 350 potters and craftsmen from across the country settled here and helped form the village. Artisans still carry on traditional onggi-making techniques, and the festival features live demonstrations by master potters. Last year, 160,000 people visited the Onggi Festival. Organizers have more than doubled shuttle-bus service this year to make it easier for visitors to reach the site. The Ulsan Onggi Festival, one of Ulsan’s cultural tourism events, runs through tomorrow. This is Kim Dan-bi reporting for Yonhap News TV from the Ulsan Onggi Festival. [Live connection: Kim Min-yeop] Yonhap News TV — For story inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23, Kim Dan-bi (sweetrain@yna.co.kr)
Danbi Kim

Danbi Kim

Why You Can't Miss the Ulsan Onggi Festival: Top Attractions and Must-Try Foods!