The Boryeong Mud Festival Will Be Held Online This Year — And Yes, There Will Still Be Lots Of Mud
Every July, millions of people flock to South Chungcheong Province to get down and dirty at the Boryeong Mud Festival. The festival, held since 1998, normally boasts a wide range of outdoor activities including mud wrestling, mud sliding, and even a mud king contest! This year, however, the mud festival will look a little bit different.
Due to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic, the 23rd Boryeong Mud Festival will be held online this year from July 17 to July 26! You’re probably wondering how an outdoor festival centered around the mineral-rich mud in the area is moving indoors, well, the city has come up with some clever ways to bring the festivities (and even the mud) to everyone.
Recently, the city revealed its program plans for their no contact festival. Instead of mud wrestling and a mud king contest, this year, festival organizers are planning to offer various online programs including augmented reality (AR) experiences and a mud dance contest!
Participating influencers will also be adding something new to the festival as they introduce the event, participate in live chats, and more through the festivals YouTube channel. Organizers are also planning to set up screens across major cities to show festival activities and YouTube content.
But the Boryeong Mud Festival wouldn’t be complete without the mud! Since people won’t be able to come to the mud, organizers are sending the mud to the people! They’re planning to send out 1,000 sets of “mud experience” kits so participants can have the mud festival experience without leaving their homes!
The festival may be different this year but it’s still set to bring plenty of happiness to everyone.
Everyday life is not the same with COVID-19 so we will try bringing the Boryeong Mud Festival online while seeking changes to find the direction for the continuity of future festivals and large-scale events. There will be trial and error as this is our first attempt but we will do our best to bring happiness and hope to the people.
— Mayor Kim Dong Il
