Hyoseok Cultural Festival (평창효석문화제)

Korean novelist Lee Hyo-seok is from Pyeongchang, Gangwon State, and is known for his novels that combine stories with the beauty of nature. The Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival, held every autumn in Bongpyeong, the setting of his famous work “When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,” celebrates his legacy and showcases the region’s beauty. The festival runs a variety of literary programs, such as an essay contest, a poetry event, and bookmaking. In the evening, there are small-scale literary and music performances to add to the romantic charm of the festivities. During the festival, the fields near the village are filled with white buckwheat flowers, creating a spectacular view as though they were waves of white snow rippling in the wind. A key highlight of the festival is capturing memorable photos against the backdrop of the buckwheat fields, which are the most cherished mementos of the event. ◎ The short novel “When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom,” published in 1936, is a beloved work that captures themes of love and humor set against a buckwheat field. In September, Bongpyeong reaches the peak of its beauty with fields of white buckwheat flowers in full bloom.