Koreans Enjoyed Jarasum Makgeolli Festival Like the Oktoberfest

    SEOUL, KOREA, November 10, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- "JARASUM MAKGEOLLI FESTIVAL 2015 with Korean Traditional Liquor Festival (JARASUM MAKGEOLLI FESTIVAL for short)" was held Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

Held at Jarasum, the festival was hosted and organized by the Korean Makgeolli Association (president Park Seong-gi, www.komak.or.kr) and sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister Lee Dong-phil) and Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation.

In order to spur the Korean traditional liquor market and globalize makgeolli, the last Thursday of October has been Makgeolli Day every year since 2011. The first makgeolli brewed from newly harvested rice was displayed at JARASUM MAKGEOLLI FESTIVAL. It goes far beyond being a representative Korean liquor festival, and aims to be a global liquor festival like Oktoberfest, Germany's world-famous beer event, and France's Beaujolais Nouveau.

To make the event more enjoyable, the stage for the opening ceremony and performances was installed at Jarasum, the venue that is globally recognized for the Jarasum International Jazz Festival. There were also themed streets that have various snacks and different types of makgeolli with period and regional characteristics from all parts of the country.

Outside the event hall, there were an array of additional facilities, including a fringe stage for events and performances, a marketplace for regional products, an outdoor bar, and a playground for children. Caravan service and camping ground were also available for visitors to enjoy.

One festival official said that the large area outside the main event hall was planned to turn into a fairground, and visitors enjoyed 200 types of makgeolli, award-winning traditional liquor, and regional specialties, all in one place. He also mentioned that they prepared "Gapyeong Grand Sale" in cooperation with Gapyeong County to sell Gapyeong's fresh agricultural products. There were also a discount event with Petite France, Nami lsland, Yeonin Mountain Arboretum, various pensions, and leisure facilities.

Park Seong-gi, president of the Korean Makgeolli Association, said: "We went to various countries and visited many liquor-related festivals to find the most appropriate model for our planning of the festival. From this year, we prepared various programs that people of all ages as well as makgeolli lovers can enjoy."

He added: "This festival is not just a place to drink. We turned this event into a future-oriented cultural festival in which various generations and regions can harmoniously communicate via makgeolli. We were glad to receive help and support from the related organizations and local governments, and mostly the people who showed their support in hosting the festival successfully."

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