Opening on October 8: A Festival Blending Agriculture, Gardens, and Marathon
A Diverse Lineup Showcasing Ecology, History, and Culture
Becoming a Signature Autumn Event for All Generations
Naju City in South Jeolla Province will host the 2025 Naju Yeongsangang Festival for five days from October 8 to 12 at the Yeongsangang Garden area.
This year’s festival aims to reinterpret the ecological, historical, and cultural values of the Yeongsangang River, presenting a more vibrant event by integrating agriculture, gardens, and a marathon into a unified celebration.
Under the slogan “A New Story of Yeongsangang, Starting Again Season 2,” the festival will feature a wide array of programs.
The event will be further enriched by the simultaneous hosting of the Naju Agriculture Festa (October 8-12), the Jeollanam-do Garden Festival (October 8-29), and the National Naju Marathon (October 12), expanding both the scale and the range of attractions.
The most significant change for this year’s festival is the introduction of the “Yeongsangang Theme Hall.”
This venue will offer experiential exhibitions and media content that encompass ecology, history, and culture, allowing visitors to gain a comprehensive view of the Yeongsangang River’s past and future.
On the opening day, the original musical “Queen Janghwa,” which tells the story of Queen Janghwa and King Taejo Wang Geon-figures from Naju’s history-will be staged as the festival’s main performance.
Singer and musical actress Luna and actor Lee Chungju will appear in the production, offering a fresh perspective on Naju’s historical figures.
The festival has also strengthened its offerings for families.
There will be a variety of spaces for all ages to enjoy, including the “Kidzania in Naju” job experience for children, the “Pororo & Bebefin Singalong Show” featuring popular characters, and board game experiences.
The lineup of traditional cultural performances is also rich, featuring a natural dyeing fashion show, the outdoor play “Naju Three-Color Heritage Play,” “Donggang Bongchu Field Song,” and the dance drama “K-Pungnyu: Naju’s Legend-Cheongmyeong,” all of which will showcase the beauty, excitement, and depth of local culture.
The cosmos flower fields and the Yeongsangang pedestrian bridge, which add to the autumn atmosphere, are expected to become new tourist attractions along the river.
Each night during the festival, the “Yeongsangang Music Festival” will be held, featuring top artists such as Kim Yongbin, Choi Jungwon, Michael Lee, Kim Hoyoung, La Poem, Lyn, and Park Jihyun.
Yoon Byungtae, Mayor of Naju, stated, “The Yeongsangang River is the root of Naju and the path to its future,” adding, “Through this festival, we aim to widely promote Naju’s cultural, ecological, and historical resources, and to create an open festival where citizens and visitors come together.”
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