▲ Photo courtesy Ultra Music Festival Korea

When asked to conjure up memories of summer music festivals of my past, the following things first come to mind:

- Vacant-eyed, precariously dreadlocked, pseudo-hippies;

- Roaming hoards of neon-clad party bros;

- Stationary, cross-armed, Wayfarer-sporting, head bobbers;

- Hip parents and hip babies, lounging about on blankets and immaculately groomed grass;

- An inebriated man, belching the same song through the night, in an overcrowded campground.

While that may sound like a list of gripes, this colorful cast of characters, paired with the ability to pack in heaps of top notch live music in a fairly short period of time, is what always makes the festival-going experience a very unique, memorable, and above all extraordinarily fun summer getaway.

▲ Photo courtesy Ultra Music Festival Korea

Luckily, over the past few years, Korea has become an increasingly likely venue for such things. Whether you’re looking for big names from abroad, or more local flavors, there are events all over the peninsula that will suit your needs this summer, even right here on Jeju.

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Rainbow Island Music and Camping Festival

When: Fri. 7 - Sun. 9 June
Where: Nami Island
What:This festival is located on your own personal island in the Bukhan River of Gangwon Province. In the wooded environs of this popular resort you will be treated to a mix of local and international indie bands.
Artists: Travis, Nell, Jun Jae Hyung, Daybreak, Idiotape, Clazziquai, Taru, Beenzino, The Weekend, MDS, Jinbo, Vanilla Voy, Park SaeByul, and many more.
Price: 3-day pass – 141,000 won
1-day pass – 88,000 won
Camping – 2-3 person tent 55,000 won, 4-5 person tent 77,000 won
Web: rainbowfestival.co.kr

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Ultra Music Festival Korea

When: Fri. 14 - Sat. 15 June
Where: Jamsil Sports Complex, Olympic Stadium, Seoul
What: Part of the international Ultra Music Festival, it is billed as the top electronic music festival worldwide. Now in its 15th installment, it features top international dance acts.
Artists: Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Avicii, Carl Cox, Kaskade, and many more.
Price: 1-day pass – 100,000 won
2-day pass – 130,000 won
Web: umfkorea.com

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The 2013 Expats in Jeju Summer Festival

When: June 22 from 6p.m to 9 p.m

Where: Tapdong Seaside Amphitheatre, Jeju City

What: Disclosure: this is a bit of a local one, but we had to get the story out there! There will be all sorts of bands and expat performances as well as some well-known local bands.

Price: Free

Web: www.headlinejeju.co.kr/

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Stepping Stone Festival

When: 6 p.m July 13

Where: Hamdeok Beach, Jocheon-eup, Jeju Island

What: A variety of local indie bands and acts from the mainland providing Korean summer flavors at Hamdeok.
Artists: South Carnival, Apollo 18, The Sagitta, 3rd Line Butterfly, Seoul Electric Band, Witches, Kingston Rudieska and others.

Price: Free

Web: facebook.com/jejussf

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Korea Full Moon Festival
When: Sat. 20 - Sun. 21 July
Where: Hamdeok Beach, Jocheon-eup, Jeju Island
What: Bringing the sounds of dubstep and more to our very own Jeju for a second year, the Full Moon Festival is not as raucous as its Thai cousin, but should satisfy those needing a hit of electronica and bass.
Artists: DJ Acceso, DJ Bruno Turati, DJ Fenner, DJ Kindergarten, DJ Peter Holman, DJ Richard Boxer, DJ Bagagee, DJ G-Tech, DJ Insert Coin, DJ Juncoco, DJ Pascal Dior, DJ Roem.
Tickets: 1-day pass 20,000 won (VIP: 45,000 won)
Web: cafe.daum.net/kofulfe

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Ansan Valley Rock Festival (Formerly Jisan Rock Festival)

When: Fri. 26 - Sun. 28 July

Where: Ansan Daebu Sea Breeze Theme Park, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do

What: This is old favorite Jisan under a new name, and location. Changes aside it is doing as expected: serving up a decent line-up of established rock acts amongst festival tents and glowsticks.

Artists: The Cure, The xx, DIIV, Vampire Weekend, The Polyphonic Spree, Skrillex, My Bloody Valentine, Stereophonics, Nine Inch Nails, Foals, FUN. Yellowcard, Coheed and Cambria, and many more.

Tickets: 1-day pass - 130,000 won (until June 30)

3-day pass - 230,000 won (until June 23)

Camping is available to 3-day pass holders for 15,000 won.

Web: valleyrockfestival.mnet. interest.me/2013/

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Jisan World Festival

When: Fri. 2 - Sun. 4 August

Where: Jisan Forest Resort, Gyeonggi-do

What: Although Ansan is the reincarnation of Jisan Valley Rock Festival, Jisan World Festival has risen from the Jisan Valley ashes - and it looks smoking! There is a real festival feel to this in rural surroundings.

Artists: Jamiroquai, Placebo, Weezer, Nas, Switchfoot, The Dandy Warhols, Deerhoof, Guitar Wolf, and more to be announced.

Tickets: 3-day pass - 200,000 won (until June 29)

Camping - 15,000 won per person (only available to 3-day pass holders)

Web: jisanworldrockfestival.com
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Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival

When: Fri. 2 - Sun. 4 August

Where: Incheon Int’l Business District, Incheon

What: Clashing with the Jisan World Festival, this also promises to be a good one. Well established as one of the top festivals, the lineup this year suggests more of the same.

Artists: Suede, Fall Out Boy, DeulGukHwa, The Big Pink, Glasvegas, Testament, Bye ByeBadman, GoGo Star, Man With a Mission, Black Bag, Blood Red Shoes, Skid Row, Story of the Year and many more.

Tickets: 2-day pass - 165,000 won

Web: Pentaportrock.com
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Busan International Rock Festival

When: Fri. 2 - Sun. 4 August

Where: Samrak Eco Park, Busan

What: If festival prices are enough to force you into that extra hour of privates on a Friday evening, don’t despair! Busan International Rock Festival is free and eco-friendly, if not all that international.

Artists: Strat Varius, No Brain, Crying Nut, Soil & “PIMP” Sessions, Kim Bada, PIA, Dickpunks, Toxic, Romantic Punch, Kingston Rudieska, humanrace, Galaxy Express, dear cloud, Yellow Monsters, Remnants of the Fallen, Stoned

Price: Free

Web: rockfestival.co.kr
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Super Sonic

When: Wed. 14 - Thurs. 15 August

Where: Olympic Park, Seoul

What: Pet Shop Boys. ‘Nuff said.

Artists: Pet Shop Boys, Earth Wind and Fire, Two Door Cinema Club, Jaurim, Hot Chelle Rae, 10 cm, Willy Moon, and more to be announced.

Price: 2-day pass – 150,000 won, Now – June 30.

Web: supersonickorea.com
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City Break Festival

When: Sat. 17 - Sun. 18 August

Where: Jamsil Sports Complex, Olympic Stadium, Seoul

What: If you’re still up for more after all that then how about a bit of Metallica to wind down with? The Hyundai Card Super Festival looks to continue its impressive pedigree.

Artists: Metallica and Muse set as headliners, with 30 other Artists including Ash and Japandroids

Price: 2-day pass – 250,000 won

Web: citybreak.superseries.kr

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