Changwon Special City Jinhae Military Band and Honor Guard Festival Opens After 4 Years

Colorful Fringe Performances and Patriotic Parade Until the 2nd

The military music and drill festival, considered the highlight of the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, which has gained nationwide fame as a cherry blossom tourist destination, has spectacularly opened after four years.

Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 1st that the opening ceremony of the "2023 Jinhae Military Music and Drill Festival," called the "flower of the Gunhangje Festival," was held at 7 p.m. on the 31st of last month at Jinhae Public Stadium during the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival.

The Military Music and Ceremony Festival, considered the highlight of the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, has spectacularly opened after four years.

The opening ceremony, attended by numerous tourists, citizens, and distinguished guests, featured the entrance of participating teams, the opening declaration, an inspection of the honor guard by Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon City, followed by a fireworks show.

The participating teams included over 700 members from 14 teams such as the military music and honor guards of the Republic of Korea Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the US 8th Army Band, Yeomgwang High School Marching Band, Korea Junior Big Band, and The Child. They received applause for their vigorous marching performances and precise drill demonstrations, which are rare sights unique to the Military Music and Drill Festival.

Earlier at 2 p.m., the Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles, painted the sky over Jinhae, where cherry blossoms were in full bloom, with a spectacular air show.

Mayor Hong said, "I sincerely thank the military personnel who have honed their skills during their challenging military service and are wholeheartedly dedicating themselves to today's event for the tourists visiting Jinhae, the foundation of South Korea's maritime security." He added, "We will develop competitive content that can only be seen at the Gunhangje Festival, like the Military Music and Drill Festival, to transform it into a world-class festival brand."

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is expressing gratitude to the military personnel.

The "2023 Jinhae Military Music and Drill Festival," under the theme "Echoes of the Naval Port, Melodies of the Future," will be held from March 31 to April 2 at Jinhae Public Stadium and throughout Changwon City.

Performances by the military music and honor guards of each branch can be seen daily at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Jinhae Public Stadium during the event. The closing performance will be held at 8:40 p.m. on April 2.

The traveling fringe performances will be showcased at Sangnam Fountain Plaza in Seongsan-gu (March 30), Jungwon Rotary in Jinhae-gu (March 31 and April 1?2), Jinhaeru (April 2), and Odongdong Cultural Plaza in Masanhappo-gu (April 1).

On April 1 and 2, from 1:30 p.m., a patriotic parade will march along the route from the Naval Jinhae Base Command to Bukwon Rotary, Jinhae Station, Jungwon Rotary, and Public Stadium.

The Military Music and Drill Festival has been held since 2007, leveraging the characteristics of Jinhae as the home port of the Republic of Korea Navy.