Have you heard about Onggi? Onggi is traditional Korean pottery made with sand and mud. There is a festival about Onggi in Ulsan. Ulsan's Onggi Festival is the only onggi festival in South Korea. Because of COVID-19, this year, 2021's festival is not sure to be held, but this festival will continue.

Onggi is made with soft soil and mud, and Onggi masters made it by their hand directly.

▲ The building of Ulsan Onggi Museum.

Because it is made with sand and mud, Onggi is good for air circulation. So, sometimes, Onggi is called "breathing pottery" by people. Thanks to it, the food inside Onggi can be preserved well. The historians assume that the first Onggi was made in about fourth to seventh, the period of three states. Like this, Onggi is not only scientific and effective but also traditional and valuable.

The Ulsan Onggi Festival is an annual local festival. It is held every year in May in Ulsan Metropolitan City Ulju-gun, Onyang-eup, Onggi Village. In the festival, there are many booths and experience zones related to Onggi. Except for 2020's festival, there are various things such as making Onggi, eating food which is preserved with Onggi, and concert, giving of souvenirs and more. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 virus, the 2020 Onggi festival was changed into an intact festival online. The promoter gathered 120 thousand people in the whole country and opened a quiz show and a ceremony on a small scale. Then, 400 thousand people took part in the festival online. For 120 thousands of visitors, the promoter promoted a photo zone, and an Onggi museum and also organized various booths.

▲ Many tourists are enjoying the festival.

Ulsan Onggi Festival is an annual festival of Ulsan. Although there is COVID-19's restrictions, how about participating in the festival when our life comes back to normal?

By Gwack Yuchan