Gyeongbuk Province to Host Five Distinctive Festivals from November 4 to 21

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province is set to host a series of five vibrant festivals across four cities and counties—Cheongsong, Gumi, Uljin, and Pohang—from November 4 to 21. Showcasing local specialties ranging from apples and instant ramen to seafood, Marine Corps culture, and spectacular fireworks, the province aims to transform regional characteristics into premier tourism content while ensuring thorough safety, traffic, and visitor convenience measures.

1. Cheongsong Apple Festival (Nov 4–8)

Marking its 20th anniversary, the Cheongsong Apple Festival, designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a official Culture and Tourism Festival, will take place around the Hyeonbiam Rock area of Yongjeoncheon Stream in Cheongsong-eup. Under the theme "Cheongsong Now! Colored by Apples," the event will feature apple exhibitions, sales, and cultural performances.

Key Highlights: The "Apple Olympics" (featuring apple stacking, long-peeling, and sugar content guessing contests), apple nata/percussion shows, and the Golden Apple-hunting activity. To celebrate its milestone 20th year, the festival will also host the National Cheongsong Apple Flower-Weaving Competition and a special Black Eagles Air Show.

2. Gumi Ramen Festival (Nov 6–8)

The Gumi Ramen Festival, recognized as an Outstanding Festival by the provincial government, will be held around Gumi Station. Capitalizing on Gumi’s status as a hub of South Korea's major instant ramen production facilities, the festival turns industrial heritage into an exciting tourist attraction.

Key Highlights: A "Ramen Restaurant" offering diverse ramen dishes, a "Soup LAB & Self-Cooking Zone" allowing visitors to mix and match noodles, broths, and toppings, and the "Global Ramen Challenge," where participants from 13 countries compete in culinary skills.

3. Uljin Jukbyeon Port Seafood Festival (Nov 6–8)

Running concurrently is the 6th Uljin Jukbyeon Port Seafood Festival, a promising festival designated by Gyeongbuk Province, held at Jukbyeon Port. Under the slogan "Let’s Go to Jukbyeon Port, Let’s Eat Seafood!" visitors can enjoy the fresh, pristine marine delicacies of the East Sea.

Key Highlights: Bare-handed live fish catching, instant seafood auctions, fish-cutting shows, a harmony water-raw-fish (mulhoe) performance, fishing boat parades, and marine craft workshops.

4. Pohang Marine Corps Culture Festival (Nov 14–15)

The 2026 Pohang Marine Corps Culture Festival will take place along Marine Corps Street in Ocheon-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, and at the 1st Marine Division base. Offering rare public access to a military base, the festival celebrates the history and culture of the Marine Corps.

Key Highlights: Armored vehicle rides, military equipment displays, combat fitness experiences, a joint ROK-US Marine civil-military-defense harmony parade, military band and honor guard demonstrations, survival games, and mission rally courses.

5. Pohang International Fireworks Festival (Nov 19–21)

The 22nd Pohang International Fireworks Festival, designated as a Gyeongbuk Province Excellent Festival, will illuminate the night sky of Yeongilman Bay around Yeongildae Beach.

Key Highlights: The grand International Fireworks Show on November 21 featuring domestic and international firework teams. Other nighttime attractions include media facades utilizing LED lighting and video projections on building exteriors, alongside the citizen-participatory "Night Carnival" street parade.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo expressed high aspirations for the series of events: "We will introduce Gyeongbak’s finest culinary delights—such as apples, ramen, and seafood—to global tables, and combine them with our unique regional charm to promote the appeal of K-tourism worldwide. By developing each region’s distinct characteristics into competitive tourism products, we will make Gyeongbuk a destination visitors will want to return to."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]