BORYEONG, July 30 (AJP) - As an unforgiving heat wave grips the country, one of Korea’s most iconic summer events kicked off in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province. The Boryeong Mud Festival is famous for turning the seaside city into a playground of seawater-rich mud. Visitors throw, smear, and soak themselves in the mineral-packed silt near Daecheon Beach. People of all ages and backgrounds dive into the mud together, forgetting the heat as their sweat and sunburn disappear beneath thick, cool layers of earth. With vacation season in full swing, the festival drew crowds from across Korea and abroad.
The joy of diving into mud
Mud is known for its skin benefits, from anti-aging effects to deep cleansing. The entrance begins with a light spray of water and the sight of large mascots painted in mud. As soon as visitors pass under a sign reading “The 28th Boryeong Mud Festival,” a volley of mud hits them. Instead of dodging it, people laugh and lean into the chaos. Faces smeared in gray-brown sludge reveal grins more at home in a horror-comedy. Everyone moves closer to the mud, with few clean spaces to be found. Some apply the mud by hand, others smear it on each other. It is a shared ritual, part skincare and part celebration.
In one of the main mud pools, about 20 to 30 people split into two teams. Games range from dance-offs and train relays to rock-paper-scissors and the challenging task of finding black stones buried deep in the mud. Faces inch closer to the ground as participants reach further, with some crawling flat-out in the thick pool.
People cheer after winning a game at the Boryeong Mud Festival on Jul. 27, 2025. AJP Han Jun-gu
Each game ends with a winning and losing team. The losers sit in the center of the pool, covering their ears as the winners unleash a rapid mud bombardment. After about 20 seconds of flying mud, the losing team emerges fully coated in dark sludge. Just when the crowd lets its guard down, the emcee yells, “It’s payback time!” and a second wave of mud comes flying in from all directions. No one is spared. Beyond the games, other challenges test visitors' strength and balance, from one-legged wrestling over the pool to staying upright on a spinning disc or racing through muddy obstacle courses.
A festival for the whole family
For children, it is the ultimate playground. While sand used to be the norm, few beaches now offer the kind of hands-on fun this muddy ground provides. Kids roll, crawl, and splash with unfiltered joy, their curiosity and energy running wild. Rest zones are also available for those exhausted from play. From shaded tents and cabanas to snack corners under trees, there are plenty of places to catch a break. For those hesitant to enter restaurants while covered in mud, designated delivery zones provide meals directly to rest areas.
Held every July in Boryeong, this year’s festival marks its 28th edition. Running from Jul. 25 to Aug. 10, it offers daytime mud fun and nighttime concerts and fireworks. Events change daily, including K-pop performances, talent shows, and drone light displays. For a fuller experience, visitors are encouraged to stay overnight to enjoy both day and evening events. Daecheon Beach, just a 5-minute walk from the festival grounds, is a perfect add-on for a summer swim.
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