"Enjoy Naju's history, culture, gastronomy, gardens, performances, and experiences all in one place"... Naju-si to Host Naju Yeongsangang Festival 2026

【Financial News Naju = Reporter Hwang Tae-jong】"Enjoy Naju's history, culture, gastronomy, gardens, performances, and experiences against the backdrop of the Yeongsan River's autumn scenery."
Naju-si will host Naju Yeongsangang Festival 2026 from October 7 to 11 at Yeongsangang Garden.
In particular, it is designed as a complex cultural festival that brings together Naju’s history, culture, ecology, agriculture, and gastronomy centered around the Yeongsan River, showcasing performances of different themes and genres every day from the opening day to the closing day.
In addition, the festival will be expanded significantly to include family experiences, children's career experiences, board games, exhibitions, gourmet food, and garden content, creating a stay-type festival where visitors can enjoy themselves beyond just a day.
Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju, emphasized, "This year's Yeongsangang Festival has organized a more detailed and diverse daily program so that visitors can encounter new performances and stories every day from the opening to the closing."


According to Naju-si on the 16th, on October 7, the first day of the festival, a stage featuring the history and stories of Naju will be presented. In particular, the theme performance "Wang Kŏn and Queen Janghwa," which will be unveiled alongside the opening ceremony, is an original musical that reinterprets the story of King Taejo Wang Kŏn of Goryeo and Queen Janghwa, a native of Naju, through music and dramatic staging. Actors Luna and Lee Choong-joo will appear to present a representative performance that can only be seen in Naju. Following this, a drone light show and fireworks display will light up the night sky over the Yeongsan River, and an opening celebratory performance by Park Ji-hyeon and Hong Ji-min will take place.
On the second day, October 8, a stage blending local culture and arts with musicals will add excitement. First, the 'Yeongsan River Wandering Culture Salon,' featuring local artists, will be performed, along with 'Yeongsan River Muldeullak (樂),' a performance by former public institution clubs, and 'Ttaro Tto Gachi Orchestra 16.' In the afternoon, the Naju City Choir will present 'Arangsa Abisa – The Legend of Angam Rock,' an artistic interpretation of Naju's historical and cultural resources. In the evening, the 'Musical Dramatic Show,' featuring Jo Kwon, Michael K. Lee, and Ivy, will take place. The unique vocal talents of the three actors, combined with stage direction set to familiar musical classics, are set to transform Yeongsangang Garden into a large-scale outdoor musical theater.
On the third day, October 9, under the theme "Colors of Tradition and Energy of Youth," Naju's traditional culture and K-pop will meet on one stage. During the day, performances by local artists, Naju Cultural Center's "Dasi-deul-norae," and the "Naju Magistrate's Procession," involving approximately 300 citizens, will take place. In the evening, a "Natural Dyeing Fashion Show" will be held, reinterpreting Naju's representative cultural asset, natural dyeing, into modern fashion content. Model Park Dul-sun, along with citizen and local models, will participate to showcase the deep, natural colors and diverse costumes characteristic of Naju's natural dyeing, expanding the traditional industry into cultural content that combines performance, tourism, and fashion.
Following this, the 'Yeongsan River River Wave Water Show' featuring Homies, Giriboy, and WISHes will take place. It will showcase dynamic staging utilizing water cannons, accompanied by the beats and lighting of K-pop and hip-hop performances. Considering the autumn temperatures, Naju-si plans to carefully adjust the amount of water used and the direction of spraying to ensure the audience's comfort, thereby preserving the unique energy and sense of presence of the performance.
The fourth day, October 10, is designed as a day for children, families, gourmet food, and classical music. The 'Pinkfong Sing-Along Show,' held twice in the morning and afternoon, will present a family-participatory stage where children and parents can sing and dance together. In the afternoon, the 'Delicious Food Orchestra at the Yeongsan River' will take place, featuring Chef Ahn Yu-seong, a Master Chef of Korea and a promotional ambassador for the '2026 Visit Naju Year.' Chef Ahn will lead a special lunchbox-making session using rice from the Naju Plains and local ingredients, and will share his secret sauce recipes and ingredient combination methods with the participants. The event is set to complete a participatory gourmet program that connects generations and the region through food, with multiple generations—from children and families to teenagers, middle-aged adults, and seniors—making rice-ball lunchboxes together and sharing them with the audience.
Next, the 'Yeongsan River National Song Festival' will continue the lively atmosphere, and in the evening, the 'Moonlight Symphony,' featuring Forestella, soprano Kim Eun-kyung, and tenor Lee Ho-cheol, will bring together Forestella's magnificent harmonies and classical music with the moonlight of the Yeongsan River to elegantly decorate the night.
On October 11, the final day of the festival, the five-day schedule will conclude under the theme of "Harmony and Finale with Generations." The "Teenieping Sing-Along Show" will be held twice, in the morning and afternoon. The "Yeongsan River Dance Contest," where participants showcase impromptu dances to music, and a "Magic Concert" for the whole family to enjoy will also take place. In the evening, a unique stage will be presented where Naju's history meets contemporary dance through the modern dance drama "Daenggimeori," which is based on the Naju Student Independence Movement. The closing performance, "Gangbyeon Yeonga," will feature Seongri and Kim Yon-ja, offering a stage where generations can sing along and enjoy together; following the performance, the closing ceremony and fireworks show will mark the grand finale of the festival.
"We are preparing a festival that all generations, from children to the elderly, can enjoy, experiencing Naju's history and culture, natural dyeing, gourmet food, and gardens together amid the beautiful autumn scenery of the Yeongsan River," said Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju. "I hope you visit Naju with your family, friends, and loved ones to fully enjoy the special autumn of the Yeongsan River that unfolds over five days."

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