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 Icheon Rice Cultural Festival |
Rice is the main staple of Korean people. Ssalbap (Steamed Rice) has been considered the best and most important food. It has been considered as the most fundamental part of a healthy diet and helps maintain physical health. It still remains as a critical part of a Korean meal and the most important ingredient in the kitchen. Koreans cook rice with great care and love. One of the most famous rice production sites in Korea is Icheon. Icheon rice was so famous and delicious that it was sent and served to the king in the past as the best and the most delicious agricultural products were collected from across the country and presented to the king. The rice selected for the king had always been Icheon rice.
You will understand why everybody agrees to our ancestors’ choice once you get a taste of Icheon rice. Koreans believe that glossy and sticky rice with a hint of sweet taste is of the best quality. As the old Korean saying goes, a bowl of hot, steamed rice is delicious even without banchan (side-dishes) and is enough to make you feel as rich and happy as the king. If you sit at a table with such a bowl of rice, you will understand what this means. Icheon rice is stickier than Southeast Asian rice and glossier than Chinese or Japanese rice. More and more foreigners who have fallen in love with Icheon rice come to Icheon.
At the Icheon Rice Cultural Festival, visitors can enjoy Icheon rice in many different forms such as bap (a bowl of steamed rice) or tteok (Rice Cake). The highlight of the festival is a huge rice cauldron called ‘Two Thousand People, Two Thousand Won (approximately two USD).’ The name of the cauldron means that its entry fee is 2,000 KRW and the cauldron is big enough to feed thousands of people. When the rice is ready, a delicious smell starts to spread. When the lid is opened, the crowd appears from here and there and soon stands in a line to try Icheon’s specialty. Everywhere, you smell sweet rice and hear the rhythmical sound of rice being pounded into rice cake. Delicious smell of makgeolli (Traditional Korean Rice Liquor) stimulates your nose and makes your mouth water. Of course, a festival must
have music and dancing. When traditional folk games are played, the exciting music makes you more immersed into the festival. The festival offers so many things for you to experience and enjoy, and you will find people there very friendly. Yeoju Premium Outlets which is in the close proximity is a great shopping venue where you can buy designer brands at discount prices. A warm bowl of Icheon rice and a great shopping experience will make your trip to Korea just perfect.
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* LOCATION
Seolbong Park, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
* PERIOD
October 30- November 3, 2013
* PROGRAMS
- Making Mujigaegaraetteok (Rainbow-colored Long and Slender Rice Cake)
- World Rice Cooking Competition; and
- Play a game of Turtle! Turtle!
* GOOD EATS
Icheonssalbap jeongsik (Icheon Set Menu with Steamed Rice)
* MUST-BUYS
Icheon ceramics, Janghowon peach, Baeksa sansuyu (Japanese Dogwood or Cornus Fruit tree)
* TOURIST HOT SPOTS
Seolbong Park, Seolbongsanseong Fortress, Sansuyu Village, and Icheon Ceramics Village
* TRANSPORTATION/DIRECTIONS
- 1 hour from Seoul by car;or,
- 1 hour 20 minutes from Seoul by bus
* HOME PAGE
http://www.ricefestival.or.kr
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You will understand why everybody agrees to our ancestors’ choice once you get a taste of Icheon rice. Koreans believe that glossy and sticky rice with a hint of sweet taste is of the best quality. As the old Korean saying goes, a bowl of hot, steamed rice is delicious even without banchan (side-dishes) and is enough to make you feel as rich and happy as the king. If you sit at a table with such a bowl of rice, you will understand what this means. Icheon rice is stickier than Southeast Asian rice and glossier than Chinese or Japanese rice. More and more foreigners who have fallen in love with Icheon rice come to Icheon.
At the Icheon Rice Cultural Festival, visitors can enjoy Icheon rice in many different forms such as bap (a bowl of steamed rice) or tteok (Rice Cake). The highlight of the festival is a huge rice cauldron called ‘Two Thousand People, Two Thousand Won (approximately two USD).’ The name of the cauldron means that its entry fee is 2,000 KRW and the cauldron is big enough to feed thousands of people. When the rice is ready, a delicious smell starts to spread. When the lid is opened, the crowd appears from here and there and soon stands in a line to try Icheon’s specialty. Everywhere, you smell sweet rice and hear the rhythmical sound of rice being pounded into rice cake. Delicious smell of makgeolli (Traditional Korean Rice Liquor) stimulates your nose and makes your mouth water. Of course, a festival must
have music and dancing. When traditional folk games are played, the exciting music makes you more immersed into the festival. The festival offers so many things for you to experience and enjoy, and you will find people there very friendly. Yeoju Premium Outlets which is in the close proximity is a great shopping venue where you can buy designer brands at discount prices. A warm bowl of Icheon rice and a great shopping experience will make your trip to Korea just perfect.
Seolbong Park, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
* PERIOD
October 30- November 3, 2013
* PROGRAMS
- Making Mujigaegaraetteok (Rainbow-colored Long and Slender Rice Cake)
- World Rice Cooking Competition; and
- Play a game of Turtle! Turtle!
* GOOD EATS
Icheonssalbap jeongsik (Icheon Set Menu with Steamed Rice)
* MUST-BUYS
Icheon ceramics, Janghowon peach, Baeksa sansuyu (Japanese Dogwood or Cornus Fruit tree)
* TOURIST HOT SPOTS
Seolbong Park, Seolbongsanseong Fortress, Sansuyu Village, and Icheon Ceramics Village
* TRANSPORTATION/DIRECTIONS
- 1 hour from Seoul by car;or,
- 1 hour 20 minutes from Seoul by bus
* HOME PAGE
http://www.ricefestival.or.kr