Koreans splash the heat away at Gimpo Aramarine Festival

Before monsoon season officially hits us in just a matter of days here in South Korea, a summer festival in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do Province is helping people beat the summer heat, blending water fun with music, culture and eco-friendly experiences.

Byeon Ye-young was there.

This summer is forecast to be hotter than usual. Heavy rainfall is expected to start in June.

And what better way to make most of the sweltering heat and rain than water sports?

"Here at the Gimpo Aramarine festival, visitors can kayak, kayak, slide down water slides, and splash the heat away."

Following its roaring success over the past years, the Gimpo Aramarine festival came back this year, this time running for four days.

The festival centers on the theme of connecting water and the environment with culture.

"This year marks the 9th edition of the Gimpo Aramarine Festival. Our main programs include the Pori Race, various water leisure activities, and a yacht competition. We're doing our best to offer fun and exciting experiences not only for Gimpo residents but for visitors from all over."

Running from June 14th to 17th, the event offers more than just water sports.

A dance competition and live performances by popular artists add to the energy and excitement.

Visitors can also explore community partnership booths offering hands-on experiences linked to water and sustainability.

"Oh, we heard there are lots of fun activities for kids to enjoy here, so we decided to come."

At the Carbon-Neutral Wooden Play Experience booth, children play with eco-friendly wooden toys while learning about carbon neutrality.

And one charming star stole the show: the festival's duck mascot, Pory.

Gimpo has a unique tradition of using ducks in rice farming to control pests --an eco-friendly practice that inspired the city's lovable duck mascot.

On Sunday, the ducks made a splashy return in the annual rubber duck race, now with a brand-new name: Pory Race.

The name "Pory" is a playful blend of "Gimpo" and ori , the Korean word for duck, and was selected through a public naming contest.

With rubber ducks raining from the sky, the Pori Race once again filled the city with smiles and laughter.

According to officials, an estimated 80,000 visitors attended the festival over the weekend.

Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.