Goheung Space and Aviation Festival Concludes with Record 120,000 Visitors

Vitalizing the Local Economy...
Establishing Itself as Korea's Leading Space Science Festival

Goheung County in South Jeolla Province announced on May 8 that the 15th Goheung Space and Aviation Festival, South Korea's only space science festival, held over four days from May 3 to 6 at the Naro Space Science Center in Goheung County, concluded on a grand scale, drawing a record-breaking attendance of over 120,000 visitors.

Held under the theme "The Great Flight of Humanity: From Earth Civilization to Space Civilization," this year's festival received enthusiastic responses from children, teenagers, and family visitors from across the country. It featured a variety of hands-on experiences, exhibitions, and performances, earning high praise as a participatory science festival where all generations could enjoy and learn together.

The 15th Goheung Space and Aviation Festival, South Korea's only space science festival, held at Naro Space Science Center in Goheung County, successfully concluded, attracting a record-breaking attendance of over 120,000 visitors. Photo by Goheung County

In particular, the "Naro Space Center Launch Site Tour Program," which offered rare access to facilities not usually open to the public, provided a valuable opportunity for direct experience, leaving participants deeply moved and instilling a sense of pride.

Additionally, more than 140 types of content?including space suit try-ons, the Astronaut Carnival Parade, the Space Art Museum, and real-life exhibits of Naroho and Nuriho?captivated visitors with the wonders of space. Unique installations such as the "Space Terminal" and the giant astronaut "Nanuri Exploration Leader" became popular photo zones and established themselves as festival landmarks.

Other attractions, such as the KAIST planetary exploration rover exhibition, constellation observation experiences, and space food tastings, inspired dreams and hope in children aspiring to become future astronauts, while evoking nostalgia and excitement for science among adults, fostering intergenerational empathy. On the "Astronaut Stage," more than 10 teams, including the original Space Festival Cyber Gugak Show, delivered performances that further heightened the festival atmosphere.

Another highlight, the local food hall, offered a variety of unique Goheung specialties such as Bajirakjitgaeng at affordable prices, delighting visitors' palates and contributing to the promotion of local agricultural and marine products, which had a positive effect on revitalizing the local economy.

County Governor Gong Youngmin said, "I deeply appreciate the enthusiastic interest and participation in the 15th Goheung Space and Aviation Festival. Through this festival, we have confirmed that the Goheung Space and Aviation Festival has firmly established itself as South Korea's representative space science festival. Next year, we will prepare even more enriching programs so that more people can share their dreams of space."