Mokpo Ceramics Festival and some Minor Digression

Mokpo may not always get the best reputation as a hotspot in South Korea and can certainly be overlooked. It does have its hidden charms though. One of those was a pleasant surprise I discovered this week while riding around on my jajeongo (bicycle) in Mokpo. I happened to sight banner advertising a ceramics festival and was able to loosely translate the location as a very familiar sight. Pyeonghwa or Peace Park is a popular spot down by the water. For five days tents were scattered across the park (a cement park). Inside the tents a broad range of factory and/or handmade ceramics. A real treasure-trove for a souvenir hunter like myself. Items ranged from tea sets, mugs, incense burners, vases, chopstick rests, jewelry to kimchi and soybean paste pots. Needless to say I was hooked into buying several handmade items at a bargain price complete with discount and “service” item, a free mug. Mokpo may not be the shopping and entertainment center of Korea but it has its charm, something I can truly appreciate and admire.