- Since the 2000s, Grand Hilton Hotel has been maintaining its tradition which hosts Korea version of Germany Octoberfest in Korea

The 185th Munich Oktoberfest takes place from 22 September to 07 October 2018.

Korea’s version about Germany Munich Oktoberfest was held under the auspices of the Grand Millennium Hotel located in Hongeun-dong, Seoul and more importantly with the initiative of General Manager Mr. Bernhard Brender.

For the memories of beer-lovers in Seoul, Seoul’s Oktoberfest has been in the 1990s mostly in the past Renaissance Seoul Hotel, introducing Germany beer festival to Korean beer lovers among others. But since the 2000s, Grand Hilton Hotel has been maintaining its tradition which hosts Korea version of Germany Octoberfest in Korea, separately from Namhae, South Kyungnam Province Oktoberfest in Oct.

Germany Amb. Stephan AUER (left) enjoying Grand Millennium Seoul's Oktoberfest with its General Manager Mr. Bernhard Brender (center) at the opening ceremony.

As many his good acquaintances know him, Mr. Bernhard Brnder, General Manager from the Grand Millennium Hilton Hotel is a long career hotelier who has accmulated his hotelier experiences in many continents. Thanks to his enthusiastic passion & attempts to revive Germany beer festival Oktoberfest within Seoul in particular, many beer lovers in Seoul were able to enjoy Germany Oktoberfest over 10 years, according to the Grand Millennium Hotel officials.

Separately from its Oktoberfest, Grand Millennium Hilton Hongeun-dong Hotel took its root firmly as a hidden treasure among visitors to Seoul. Anyway on last Sat. Sep. 8th evening, many beer lovers in Seoul spent their pleasant time in experiencing the original atmosphere of Germany Oktoberfest, singing German songs together with the band dispatched from Germany all the night.

The Oktoberfest today

To this day, the Oktoberfest retains its traditional local flavor: It is a Munich festival characterized by Munich hospitality and lubricated by Munich beer.

That is why the Oktoberfest rules specify that “only Munich beer from proper and proven traditional Munich breweries (today, this descriptioadmits the breweries Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten and the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus) that complies with the Munich Purity Law of 1487 and the German Purity Law of 1906 may be served”.

The City of Munich has been organizing the Oktoberfest and overseeing the development of this major public festival for more than 180 years. Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid, head of the Department of Labor and Economic Development, is responsible for the organization and running of the festival. Based on his proposals, Munich City Council's Economic Affairs Committee makes all key decisions with regard to the Oktoberfest.

Germany band team raising fun of the Seoul Oktoberfest 2018.

Every year, something like 1,400 applications from funfair amusements and vendors are received and assessed. About 600 of these applicants are ultimately admitted.

Today, the Oktoberfest – the Festival of the City of Munich – has attained to global fame and is seen as the biggest public festival in the world. What makes it so special is its uncanny (and seemingly effortless) ability to remain a festival for local residents while also doubling up as an international mega-event. While never forgetting its roots, it is always open to new developments. This unique mix of high-tech and tradition is typical of the “festival of festivals” and accounts for its outstanding popularity and attractiveness.

In 2010, the world-famous festival commemorated its 200th anniversary in fitting style: On the southern part of the festival grounds, a special area was set up featuring a racetrack for horses, a historical beer tent, a museum tent, an animal show, a velodrome and a theater tent. Powerfully evoking the celebrations of yesteryear, this special anniversary feature

oozed a nostalgic charm and laid-back atmosphere all its own. The event was such a hit with visitors that, in 2011, Munich's City Council decided to make what was dubbed the “Oide Wiesn” (the “Vintage Oktoberfest”) a regular feature in honor of the Oktoberfest celebrations of the olden days.

Participants who took part in its fastly beer-drinking competition in the Oktoberfest 2018

Number of visitors to the Oktoberfest since 1980

Year Visitors (in millions)

1980 5.1

1981* 6.2

1982 5.8

1983 6.6

1984* 7.0

1985 (Anniversary Oktoberfest) 7.1

1986 6.7

1987* 6.5

1988 5.7

1989 6.2

1990* 6.7

1991 6.4

1992 5.9

1993* 6.5

1994 6.6

1995 6.7

1996* 6.9

1997 6.4

1998 6.5

1999 6.5

2000*** 6.9

2001 5.5

2002 5.9

2003 6.3

2004* 5.9

2005**** 6.1

2006***** 6.5

2007 6.2

2008* 6.0

2009 5.7

2010 (Anniversary Oktoberfest) 6.4

2011****(+ Oide Wiesn) 6.9

2012* 6.4 (Source: Munich City)

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