A scene from the beach sand festival held in 2024. (Yonhap)
BUSAN, South Korea, April 16 (Korea Bizwire) — The 2025 Haeundae Sand Festival will mark its 20th anniversary with a grand celebration from May 16 to 19 under the theme “K-Culture Through Sand,” Haeundae District officials announced Monday.
First held in 2005 to commemorate the APEC summit, the annual festival has become one of Busan’s most iconic cultural events. This year’s edition highlights the global appeal of Korean culture beyond K-pop and television dramas, extending into food, beauty, and fashion through more than 20 large-scale sand sculptures.
Fourteen renowned artists from South Korea, the United States, Canada, China, and Russia will craft intricate reliefs and sculptures depicting themes such as the Dangun mythology, Goguryeo hunting murals, the Korean alphabet, scenes from the film Train to Busan, singer Rosé’s apartment, and the viral Baby Shark character.
The festival’s main centerpiece will be a towering 12-meter-high, 25-meter-wide sculpture depicting Admiral Yi Sun-sin and a traditional Korean wedding ceremony set against backdrops of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Dabotap Pagoda, and Cheomseongdae Observatory.
A scene from the beach sand festival held in 2023. (Yonhap)
Special zones include a sand observatory, a “20th Anniversary Zone” showcasing past festival highlights, and a “Panorama Room” chronicling the event’s history. Interactive experiences such as “Challenge: I’m a Sand Sculptor” and timed sculpting contests will allow visitors to try their hand at sand art.
Family-friendly activities like treasure fishing and sand playgrounds will be available in the “Activity Zone.” Meanwhile, the nearby Gunam-ro area will be transformed into a “K-Culture Street,” offering traditional Korean games like ttakji and biseok chigi, as well as participatory events such as random play dance sessions inspired by popular Korean entertainment.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
