Organizing Committee Unveils Mascot and Emblem
Festival Begins with Community Participation
Digital Sports Festival to Feature NFTs and AI Integration
The mascot for the 2026 Jeju National Sports Festival, 'Kkiyo,' was unveiled on the 10th. Provided by Jeju Province.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province is positioning the 2026 National Sports Festival as a turning point for revitalizing tourism. By unveiling the official mascot 'Kkiyo' and introducing the digital sports festival concept on November 10, the province aims to use the entire period from the preparation stage to the main event as an opportunity to attract visitors to Jeju.
The early launch of the organizing committee in June was also part of this strategy. Jeju plans not only to ensure systematic preparations for the event but also to steadily implement measures to promote tourism leveraging the festival.
At the Jeju National Sports Festival Organizing Committee meeting held at the Halla Convention Center on this day, Jeju Province unveiled the official symbols of the festival for the first time and declared the start of full-scale preparations.
Approximately 150 people attended the meeting, including Jeju Governor Oh Younghun (Chairman of the Organizing Committee), Lee Sangbong, Chairman of the Provincial Council, Superintendent of Education Kim Kwangsoo, as well as committee members, and executives from the Provincial Sports Council and the Disabled Sports Council.
The meeting began with the entrance of the festival flag, followed by reports on the preparation status of the National Sports Festival and efforts to improve athletic performance, and included sharing opinions from the Provincial Sports Council and the Disabled Sports Council, thereby reviewing all aspects of the event's preparations.
This year, Jeju Province received both the flag for the 107th National Sports Festival and the 46th National Para Games at the closing ceremony of the Busan Sports Festival.
The mascot 'Kkiyo,' inspired by the Jeju Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, embodies the vibrant and spirited character of Jeju people, the cooperative Sunul-eum culture, and a love for peace.
Jeju Province plans to draw nationwide attention through promotional activities centered on Kkiyo.
The emblem is based on the English initial 'J' for Jeju. The top features a 'torch' symbolizing passion and challenge, while the bottom depicts 'waves' representing the clean Jeju sea, expressing the excitement and unity of the festival.
In particular, the 'digital sports festival' promoted by Jeju is a key strategy with tourism linkage in mind. The province plans to attract nationwide attention and boost visitor demand to Jeju by introducing future-oriented features such as digital tickets based on non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a robot torch relay, and demonstration broadcasts of events using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
During the meeting, a vision video outlining the direction for realizing the 'Digital Jeju Sports Festival' was also released.
After the video screening, Governor Oh Younghun and a humanoid robot performed a sports demonstration together, symbolically showcasing the integration of technology and sports at the festival.
Jeju Province intends to make the 2026 National Sports Festival more than a one-off sporting event, transforming it into a 'year-round festival of vitality' that continues throughout the event period. The goal is to develop it into a festival-style sports event with participation from residents, related organizations, and various groups, making all residents the protagonists of the event.
Currently, Jeju is accelerating preparations for the festival, focusing on stadium allocation and facility renovations, the operation of resident supporter and volunteer groups, and the formation of a province-wide support committee to wish for the event's success.
The province is systematically preparing detailed action plans for each area, including transportation, accommodation, safety, and the environment, to establish a solid foundation for successful event management.
The 46th National Para Games will be held from September 11 to 16 next year, and the 107th National Sports Festival will take place from October 16 to 22 next year, both in various locations across Jeju.
Governor Oh Younghun stated, "Just as the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin 'Kkiyo' leaps beyond the Jeju sea to the entire nation, the 2026 Jeju Sports Festival will be a new event where digital technology and the Sunul-eum spirit come together. We will prepare and enjoy the event together with residents and create a successful festival that draws nationwide attention to Jeju."
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