Damyang Bamboo Festival Selected as 2026 Jeollanam-do Representative Festival

Distinctive Content Reflecting Local Identity Receives High Praise

The Damyang Bamboo Festival has been selected as the representative festival of Jeollanam-do for 2026. The photo shows the 24th Damyang Bamboo Festival held last year in Damyang County, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Jeollanam-do Damyang County

Damyang County in Jeollanam-do announced on January 13 that its regional cultural tourism event, the Damyang Bamboo Festival, has been selected as the representative festival of Jeollanam-do for 2026.

With this selection, the county will receive 10 million won in provincial funding to strengthen the festival's competitiveness.

The 24th festival, held last May under the theme "Damyang, Immersed in Green," was praised as a family-friendly event for all generations, featuring unique programs that combined ecology, tradition, and culture. Experience-based activities highlighting local identity, such as bamboo raft rides and wish lantern hanging, were particularly well received by visitors.

In particular, the policy of converting admission tickets for Juknokwon and Metaland into redeemable coupons that could be used at nearby shops was highly regarded as an innovative case that boosted both local small business sales and tourist satisfaction. Additionally, the participation of international influencers and foreign correspondents based in Korea demonstrated the festival's potential for global expansion.

This year, the county plans to significantly enhance the nighttime scenery throughout the festival grounds, aiming to maximize the appeal of the festival as a "stay-type" event that can be enjoyed both day and night.

A county official stated, "The Damyang Bamboo Festival was able to establish itself as the representative festival of Jeollanam-do thanks to the enthusiastic support of our residents," adding, "This year, under the theme 'Shine Bright, Bamboo,' we will develop a variety of content that illuminates the beauty of green bamboo, striving to make it a festival of hope that represents not only Jeollanam-do but all of Korea."