Performances and fireworks along Yeosu’s night sea, reading on the islands... ‘Culture Month’ runs through the 19th

[Financial News] Commemorative events for ‘2026 Culture Month’ will be held along Yeosu’s night sea and on its islands. Programs for residents and tourists, including street performances, performances by community cultural groups and outdoor reading, will continue through the 19th.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 17th, the event, themed ‘Yeosu’s Night Sea: A Voyage of Romance and Culture,’ began on the 16th. It is co-hosted by the ministry and the city of Yeosu in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.
The commemorative ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. that day on the open stage at the main venue of the ‘2026 Yeosu World Island Expo.’ Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young and other guests will take part in a ceremony to light the ‘cultural lighthouse’ and turn the ship’s helm.
The main performance, ‘Yeosu, From Time to Light,’ weaves together the sounds of the sea and the city, residents and artists, to depict Yeosu’s past, present and future. It will be followed by celebratory performances by Seodo Band, Solar and Zion.T, as well as a fireworks show.
The ‘YK Dance Festa,’ featuring young people and members of the general public, will be held from 3 p.m. on the 18th. Competitors will be divided into student and general divisions, and one top team in each division will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award.
During the event, the ‘Marine Street Arts Festival’ will be held around Yeosu Marine Park, featuring street performances by local artists and professional performance teams, an ocean-themed illuminated street, and an exhibition featuring invited international graffiti artists.
At Ungcheon Waterfront Park, the ‘Living Culture Festival’ will bring together community cultural groups from across the country for performances, exhibitions, hands-on activities and exchanges. On Jangdo, the ‘Island of Art,’ there will be classical music performances and ‘Library by the Sea,’ an outdoor reading program.
Access to Jangdo is restricted because Jinseom Bridge, which connects it to the mainland, is submerged at high tide. Visitors should check access hours on the GS Caltex Yeulmaru website before their visit.
‘Culture Delivery to You’ will also be offered on the islands and at traditional markets. On the final day, the 19th, a traditional arts celebration and closing performance will be held at the main venue of the Island Expo.
October’s ‘Culture Month’ and ‘Culture Day,’ observed on the third Saturday of October, were designated in 1972. The commemorative event, previously held in Seoul, has toured the country since 2003 to broaden the reach of regional culture and the arts.
Minister Choi said, “The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will do its utmost to foster the development of culture and tourism together, so that locally distinctive cultures grow into attractive tourism content and their vitality carries over into residents’ daily lives.”

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