Chungjang-ro Area to Host Five-Day Festival from October 15 to 19
Gwangju Dong-gu is making final preparations for the "22nd Gwangju Chungjang Festival of Memories," which will be held for five days from October 15 to 19 around Geumnam-ro and Chungjang-ro, with just 30 days left until the event.
According to Gwangju Dong-gu on September 16, the Gwangju Chungjang Festival of Memories, designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a "Korea Representative Culture and Tourism Festival," is the only domestic street festival centered on culture and the arts with "memories" as its theme. The festival, which began in 2004 to revitalize the old downtown area during its most prosperous era in the 1970s and 1980s, marks its 22nd edition this year.
The theme of this year's Chungjang Festival is "Fairy Tales of Memories," offering a new and fantastical experience by recreating the fairy tales of our memories, filled with love, adventure, hope, and imagination.
The festival is organized by day: "Opening Day" on the first day, "Asian Culture Day" on the second, "Family Day" on the third, and "Parade Days" on the fourth and fifth days (October 18-19). The event will feature a richer and more diverse program than ever before.
The four main features of this year's festival are: ▲ reflecting the unique characteristics of the location and globalizing the festival ▲ introducing new specialized content with the rice ball contest "Delicious Memories by Hand" ▲ expanding the festival's highlight, the "Chungjang Parade" ▲ and recreating the 1970s-80s themed streets from the era of memories.
First, as Gwangju is the "Asian Culture Hub City" and home to the National Asia Culture Center, the festival will be expanded to encompass the cultures and memories of various Asian countries. To this end, on the second day (October 16), "Asian Culture Day" will feature the "Asia Culture Street," where visitors can experience and enjoy Asian cultures, games, and cuisine.
Debuting this year, the rice ball contest "Delicious Memories by Hand" uses rice balls-a symbol of the Gwangju May 18 spirit of solidarity and sharing-as its theme. This mission-based contest seeks the most creative and delicious rice balls. It will be held on the main stage at Geumnam-ro on October 18, and any citizen wishing to showcase a special rice ball recipe can participate through advance or on-site registration.
The festival's highlight, the "Chungjang Parade," will also be expanded. Instead of being held on just one day as in previous years, the parade will now take place over two days. On October 18, leading domestic theme park parade teams will be invited, offering a spectacle never before seen in Gwangju. On the final day, October 19, instead of a conventional closing ceremony, performances by parade teams selected through a national competition and parades prepared by Dong-gu's administrative districts will be presented simultaneously. The finale will feature a drone show, during which next year's theme will be announced, bringing the festival to a close.
Lastly, under the theme "Our Story, Happy Like a Fairy Tale," a 1970s-80s themed street will be created to welcome citizens. In the Sinseoseok-ro area, settings such as schools, snack shops, arcades, photo studios, cafes, and stationery stores will be recreated to evoke nostalgic memories. Around "Village of Light," located between the National Asia Culture Center and Dongbu Police Station, stories connecting the past and present will be shared with visitors.
In addition, collaboration will be expanded with five district family centers, Chonnam National University and Chosun University RISE project groups, and other related organizations to further promote intergenerational exchange and community participation. By utilizing data from the Korea Tourism Data Lab and offering customized programs by date and time, the festival aims to attract even more visitors.
Lim Taek, head of Dong-gu District Office, stated, "Starting this year, we aim to make the 'Series of Memories' an annual event, evolving Chungjang Festival into a citizen-driven festival that reaches beyond the region to the world. I hope you will come to next month's Chungjang Festival to see, enjoy, experience, and heal."
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