Cheonan City held the "2026 Cheonan K-Culture Expo Evaluation Report and Meritorious Persons Awards Ceremony" at the main auditorium of the Cheonan Youth Complex Community Center on the 28th, reviewing major achievements and areas for improvement.

The event featured an evaluation report presentation by the Industry-University Cooperation Foundation of Baekseok University, followed by the awarding of commendations to individuals, institutions, and organizations that contributed to the success of the expo.

According to the evaluation report, this year's expo, held at the Independence Hall of Korea complex from the 2nd to the 6th, drew a total of 402,269 visitors, a 12.9% increase from last year (356,448 visitors).

Out-of-town visitors accounted for approximately 53% of the total, and the direct economic impact generated by the expo was analyzed at 10.23 billion won.

Visitor satisfaction was recorded at 4.59 out of 5 points (equivalent to 91.8 out of 100 points).

Among the detailed programs, the K-Food Zone, opening and closing ceremonies, and the Ramyeon & Ice Cream Festa received high evaluations. The synergy between the symbolic location of the Independence Hall and Cheonan's city brand, along with mutual growth alongside local universities and artists, were also highlighted as major achievements.

"It is crucial to objectively examine both the aspects positively evaluated by visitors and the points of inconvenience they experienced," said Cheonan Mayor Jang Ki-soo. "Based on these evaluation results, we will comprehensively review our overall cultural and tourism policies and ways to vitalize the local economy from multiple angles."

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]