The 2026 Mungyeong Eco-Camping Festival transformed the city’s downtown Yeonggang Sports Park into a multi-day hub of outdoor recreation, music, and sustainable tourism on October 19–20. Organized by the Mungyeong city government, the two-day event drew crowds to the city’s primary water and lifestyle corridor rather than relying exclusively on traditional mountain destinations like Mungyeong Saejae and Dansan.
Expanding Urban Tourism Through the Yeonggang River Run
The festival introduced the “Yeonggang River Run,” bringing approximately 350 participants together to run along the natural scenery of the Yeonggang river. Unlike competitive racing events, this program prioritized a shared recreational experience for families, friends, and running clubs. Mungyeong city officials designed the initiative to integrate the growing popularity of running culture directly into local municipal tourism. The course utilized existing civic spaces, demonstrating how urban riverfronts can function as active tourism infrastructure without requiring large-scale facility construction.
Outdoor Camping and Eco-Friendly Upcycling Programs
Alongside the running event, the “Dynamic Camp” brought roughly 130 participants to the Yeonggang Sports Park for a weekend camping experience. Campers participated in bicycle tours and local brewery visits, connecting the campsite directly to surrounding downtown attractions. To reinforce the festival’s environmental theme, an upcycling program focused on resource circulation drew 450 participants, including numerous family visitors. The Mungyeong tourism promotion booth also engaged attendees with roulette games, character merchandise featuring local mascots Chulsadongi and Chulsadungi, and regional specialty items like Mungyeong apples.
Nighttime Music Performances at Yeonggang Music Festa
The weekend culminated in the “Yeonggang Music Festa,” an open-air concert that drew an estimated 1,500 attendees. Musical acts Mighty Mouth and Dynamic Duo performed on the outdoor stage, creating an evening atmosphere that combined live entertainment with the riverside camping setup. Mungyeong Mayor Kim Hak-hong stated that the festival successfully validated a new event model combining youth-oriented outdoor content like camping, running, and music with the natural environment of Mungyeong. City administrators plan to continue developing these outdoor tourism assets to encourage longer visitor stays and greater downtown economic activity.
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