Goseong County Embarks on a New Voyage for the Goseong Festival: "Autumn Sea and Myeongtae"

25th Goseong Myeongtae Festival
Evolving Into a Festival That Embodies Its Identity and Strengthens Its Brand

Goseong County in Gangwon Province (Governor Ham Myungjun) and the Goseong Cultural Foundation unveiled the blueprint for the 25th annual festival at a final briefing session held at the Goseong County Office on September 24.

Aerial view of Goseong County Office. Provided by Goseong County

With just one month remaining until the 25th Goseong Myeongtae Festival, the briefing was attended by Goseong County Governor Ham Myungjun, Goseong Myeongtae Festival Committee Chair Shin Younggyun, and other officials. They shared updates on festival preparations and new strategies, officially marking the festival's launch.

This year’s festival will be held from October 17 to 19 at the Geojeon 11-ri Beach.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the event is evolving from a simple food festival into an “experiential festival focused on strengthening its brand and identity.”

To achieve this, the foundation conducted a survey among local residents and developed programs under the theme of “Rediscovering Tradition and Expanding Experiential Activities.”

The rediscovery of tradition will be featured through programs such as the Myeongtae Theme Pavilion, Myeongtae Memory Story Contest, Goseong Fishing Experience Center, and Myeongtae Disembowelment Experience. Efforts have also been made to expand hands-on activities.

There will be a Myeongtae Lounge in collaboration with renowned Korean culinary masters, a “Myeongtae Wishing Paper” activity linked to the mural stage, and the Myeongtae Beach Bar set up in a special beachside area. Notably, these spaces will go beyond simple Mongolian tents, instead serving as visually distinctive structures that highlight the festival’s brand and identity, blending with the autumn seaside scenery to create a unique festival atmosphere.

The most notable change is the introduction of the Myeongtae Train and Fishing Boat Bus, which connect the festival grounds to Geojeon-eup. These are not just means of transportation, but are designed to allow visitors to directly experience the local commercial district and everyday culture.

The event space has also been reimagined. The tent layout has been rearranged to provide better beach views, and the main stage has been moved to the far end to improve visitor flow. The entrance will feature an illuminated gate and a photo zone, aiming to enhance the atmosphere of a stay-type festival.

Another new experiment is a participation-based certification system. Activities such as bare-handed fish catching, the Fishing Boat Bus, and the Myeongtae Disembowelment Experience will only be available to those who present a receipt showing they have spent at least 10,000 won within Goseong County.

This is an effort to transform the festival from a simple consumption event into a platform for local economic circulation.

At the briefing, Goseong County Governor Ham Myungjun stated, “After 25 years, the Myeongtae Festival is now embarking on a new voyage. We will ensure it reflects Goseong’s history and culture, and develop it into a sustainable festival that grows together with the region.”