Various Programs Including Performances, Boarding Experiences, and Parades
Selected as a "Korea Culture and Tourism Festival" by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Two Consecutive Years
The 15th Hwaseong Boat Festival, the largest marine leisure festival in the Seoul metropolitan area, will be held over three days from May 30 to June 1 at the Jeongok Port area.
Hosted by Hwaseong City and organized by the Hwaseong Foundation for Culture and Tourism, this festival has been recognized as a "Korea Culture and Tourism Festival" by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for two consecutive years, establishing itself as a leading marine festival in Korea.
This year, the city has chosen the slogan "LET'S S.E.A in Hwaseong" and plans to present a variety of programs.
A Modern Interpretation of the Maritime Silk Road: Spotlight on the "Wind Envoy"
The "Wind Envoy Dance Parade" of the Hwaseong Boat Festival, inspired by the trade envoy teams that traveled the ancient Silk Road. Provided by Hwaseong City
The highlight of the Hwaseong Boat Festival is the "Wind Envoy" parade, which takes place on the second day of the festival, May 31. This program is a dance parade inspired by the trade envoy teams that traveled the ancient Silk Road.
The parade features citizen performance teams selected through an open call and preliminary rounds, who will compete in a dance contest. This year, 20 teams and more than 500 participants will express a variety of themes such as the sea, wind, and boats through dance.
In fact, "Dangseong" in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong City, has served as an international trading port and a gateway to the maritime Silk Road, facilitating direct exchanges with China from the Three Kingdoms era through Unified Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon dynasties. Countless envoys, monks, and students passed through this port, actively engaging in exchanges.
From Boarding Experiences to the Cheonhae Cruise Group: Enjoying Content on the Sea
At the Hwaseong Boat Festival, visitors can board various types of boats and yachts. Visitors are experiencing boat rides at last year's festival. Provided by Hwaseong City
During the festival, visitors can experience boarding a variety of sailing yachts, power boats, luxury yachts, and cruise ships around Jeongok Port. Near the Ippado fishing grounds, visitors can also try sea fishing.
This year, the city will deploy 59 vessels?13 more than last year?to allow even more visitors to experience boarding. The city expects that more than 20,000 people will be able to participate in boarding experiences during the festival period.
Another highlight is "The Voyage of the Pungnyudan," held three times daily throughout the festival. The event features a marine flyboard performance, followed by a land parade with "Wind Envoy" participants, a military band, and citizens.
The popular "Cheonhae Cruise Group" will also return this year. This program offers a circular experience combining yachts and the Jebudo Marine Cable Car. Participants can enjoy the sunset and night views of the West Coast while riding both the yacht and the cable car.
Various performances are also scheduled throughout the festival period. On the first day, May 30, hip-hop group Dynamic Duo, trot singer Jang Minho, and the band Mongdol are set to perform. On May 31, a "Latin DJ Dance Festival" for audience participation will be followed by a fireworks display at the Jeongok Port breakwater.
On the closing day, June 1, there will be a "Dance Festival" featuring Hwaseong City art organizations, as well as the "Hwaseong Song Festival," where citizens and trot singers will perform together.
Experience the Charm of Hwaseong at the Experience and Promotional Booths
Experience and promotional booths set up at the Hwaseong Boat Festival venue last year. Provided by Hwaseong City
The festival venue will also feature a variety of experience and promotional booths. The booths are divided into themed zones: Flea Market Zone, Welcome Zone, Experience Zone, Main Zone, Sailing Zone, and Mudflat Experience Zone, each offering specialized experiential content.
At the Flea Market Zone, visitors can taste a variety of foods made from local specialties, and citizens can participate directly by selling various handmade lifestyle goods such as French embroidery, soap, bags, pouches, keyrings, and leather accessories.
The Welcome Zone will feature a promotional booth for the AI Expo "MARS 2025," jointly operated by Hwaseong City and the Hwaseong Industry Promotion Agency. This booth will offer citizen-participation programs such as an AI photo booth experience, souvenir distribution, and pre-registration events for the expo. An AI experience booth will also allow visitors to transform photos they take into generative images.
Additionally, there will be booths for young job seekers, including a VR mock interview experience and free MBTI tests, as well as promotional content introducing city policies such as plans for a botanic garden.
Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong, stated, "This year's festival is a meaningful event that allows citizens to joyfully share Hwaseong's history as a pioneer of the Silk Road, its present, and its vision for the future. Beyond simply enjoying the Hwaseong sea, this festival will provide a valuable opportunity to newly discover the value and potential of the city's marine resources."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
