2026 Seoul Onggi Festival Launches at Major Pottery Market
Visitors flock to the 2026 Seoul Onggi Festival, which kicks off on May 1 at Seoul’s key Onggi market. City officials confirmed the event runs through May 1-3, coinciding with the Children’s Day holiday weekend.
This market produces half of the nation’s Onggi—traditional Korean earthenware jars—and stands as the country’s largest pottery hub. During the 1960s and 1970s, it crafted around 350,000 renowned jars from clay sourced nationwide. Today, locals still excavate clay and craft these vessels by hand.
Opening Ceremony and Cultural Highlights
The festival opens on May 1 at 7 p.m. with a dramatic Onggi kiln firing at the market site, capping off the Onggi Culture Festival. Attendees experience a themed “Onggi Memory Journey,” embracing clay and exploring family pottery histories through drone shows and fireworks.
On May 3 at 6:30 p.m., a star-studded concert titled “Onggi Concert: Hands Together” features performers Kim Kyung-ho, Hong Kyung-min, Jung Sura, Jung Seo-joo, and Park Sung-hyun.
Hands-On Experiences and Attractions
Interactive workshops abound, including water-wheel-powered “Make Your Own Onggi” sessions. Popular activities cover Kimchi pot crafting, Onggi special products, and themed education like “Onggi Field Players.”
Citizen programs highlight villagers shaping Onggi live, with museums showcasing horse-drawn carts, mime acts, circuses, and more. Food stalls grill meats like samgyeopsal (pork belly), seafood, and turtle dishes in Onggi pots. Busan Gwahak University students sell handmade crafts and pans.
Additional draws include Onggi market fire drills, laser safety experiences, and immersive “Yahwa” events.
A city official described the festival as “a cultural showcase representing tradition,” adding that “visitors will discover fresh charms across all Onggi varieties.”
