Yongin Special City will host the 2026 Korea Choayong Festival at the Yongin Mir Stadium in Samga-dong, Cheoin-gu, on October 3 and 4. Running under the theme “Enjoy Together! Yongin’s 30th Anniversary,” the two-day event marks the city’s 30th anniversary since transitioning from Yongin County to Yongin City on September 30, 1996, with local officials expanding the municipal celebration into a national character-focused festival.
Festival Scale and Character Lineup
The festival features 40 characters representing 28 domestic and international institutions, scaling up from last year which drew roughly 45,000 visitors with 29 characters across 18 organizations. International participants include representatives from exchange cities such as Kumamoto, Japan, alongside domestic municipal governments, public agencies, corporate entities, and university groups. The festival grounds will feature character parades, cosplay events, dance performances, random play dance sessions, and live drawing shows throughout the venue.
Citizen’s Day Ceremony and Special Guests
The 31st Yongin Citizen’s Day commemorative ceremony takes place on October 3, with representatives from more than 20 domestic and international exchange cities in attendance. High-profile sports figures scheduled to interact with citizens include national track and field athlete Woo Sanghyeok, Yongin FC Technical Director Lee Dong-guk, and player Seok Hyun-jun. Winning entries from the citizen-produced “Choayong Short-Form Challenge” will also be screened during the event.
Multi-Sector Exhibitions and Future Technology
The festival integrates several concurrent exhibitions and public programs across the stadium grounds.
Simultaneously, the Lifelong Learning Expo operates under the slogan “Today’s Usefulness Learned and Applied Directly,” offering hands-on programs in environment, smart technology, crafts, and health. The Youth Festival runs under the theme “Youth, You Too, Me Too!” featuring board games, puzzle finding, and regional youth instructor programs.
Food Culture and Local Agriculture
Food and agricultural programs anchor a significant portion of the weekend’s events. The Food Festival debuts the new Yongin agricultural brand “Yongin Pami Choayong,” complete with a photo zone, craft card activities, and 14 local businesses showcasing processed agricultural goods. The Food Industry Exposition features a large-scale bibimbap performance on October 3, alongside product booths from local food manufacturers and dedicated promotional spaces for “Choayong Restaurants” selected between 2024 and 2026. Additionally, the Choayong Food Festa introduces local specialties combining Baegok rice with the Choayong character, alongside the first Yongin Special City Baegok Rice Baking Masters Championship.
Transportation and Access
To mitigate traffic congestion and parking shortages around Yongin Mir Stadium during the event, Yongin Special City is operating dedicated shuttle buses running between Yongin City Hall and the stadium site.
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