The city of Boryeong, the host of the annual Boryeong Mud Festival, said Monday some foreign visitors were now booking their tickets and coming from overseas to participate in the event.

Foreign visitors to the festival have generally been already residing in the country.

“Jay from the United States saw an online ad for the festival and immediately booked a ticket to land in South Korea on Friday, the opening day of the festival,” said one of the interpreters at the event.

Daecheon Beach, the venue for the festival, is going through an unprecedented transformation as well. The area that used to be filled with eateries only selling local food, has begun adding shops that sell burgers and pizza due to the rising inflow of foreigners during the festival.

With events such as mud wrestling, mud king contest and free mud massage for face and body, the Boryeong Mud Festival has grown into a unique festival known worldwide, organizers said.

The event will last for 10 days through July 28. For more information, visit www.mudfestival.or.kr

(knews@heraldcorp.com)