koreanfestivals1-9, Exercise 2: How the Boryeong Mud Festival began

Model answer (any four steps):

- Until the 1990s the Daecheon mud flats made the beach unappealing to tourists.
- Early 1990s: the coal mines closed and the regional economy fell.
- 1994: the Daecheon mayor, inspired by a movie scene of a mud bath, saw a way to boost the economy; a pharmacy professor's study found the mud rich in bentonite and germanium; a mud massage house opened.
- 1995-97: a mud mask project and eight mud cosmetics, with little commercial success because the product was unknown.
- 1998: a professor proposed a mud-focused festival to attract tourists and spread awareness of the products; the first festival was held 16-19 July at Daecheon Beach and exceeded expectations.

Original purpose stated by the article: a marketing vehicle for Boryeong mud cosmetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, Boryeong Mud Festival.