Nationwide Spring Festival Jinhae Gunhangje Designated as Preliminary Festival by Culture Ministry

Changwon-teukrye-si Secures First Foothold
for Leap Toward National Festival Status

Jinhae Gunhangje, the representative spring festival of Changwon-teukrye-si in South Gyeongsang Province, has been selected as a preliminary festival designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the years 2026 to 2027.

A preliminary festival is a preparation stage through which a festival can advance to become a cultural tourism festival in 2028 to 2029. Jinhae Gunhangje was recommended to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism after a review by the Gyeongsangnam-do internal promotion committee, and it was finally confirmed through a comprehensive evaluation of the ministry's designation criteria, including the festival's track record and its potential for further development.

Jinhae Gunhangje, Changwon Special City's representative spring festival, has been designated as a preliminary festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The designation period is two years. During this period, various capacity-building programs will be supported, including festival evaluations involving experts, consumers, and local residents, task-support public relations projects, and festival conferences. Depending on future evaluation results, the festival will also be given the opportunity to advance to the status of a cultural tourism festival.

Kim Manki, Director General of Culture, Tourism and Sports, said, "This designation as a preliminary festival is an opportunity for Jinhae Gunhangje to take another leap forward," adding, "Our city will do its utmost to enable Jinhae Gunhangje to grow not only into a cultural tourism festival but also into a global festival by strengthening festival content and expanding global promotional marketing."

Marking its 64th edition this year, Jinhae Gunhangje is scheduled to be held for 10 days from March 27 to April 5, 2026. With its beautiful cherry blossom scenery and a wide range of cultural and artistic programs honoring the patriotic spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, it is once again expected to attract the attention of domestic and international tourists.