61st Seorak Cultural Festival closes in Sokcho with about 150,000 visitors over three days
In short
The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival ran from Oct. 2 to 4 at Sokcho's Expo lawn plaza and Seorak Rodeo Street, drawing an estimated 150,000 visitors over the three days. The festival, held under the slogan “Seorak, together dyed,” included street parades, youth programs and a closing fireworks show. Organizers said they will use visitor feedback to refine next year's programs.
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The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival closed in Sokcho after a three-day run from Oct. 2 to 4, drawing an estimated 150,000 visitors, according to Sokcho city and the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation. The festival was held at the Expo lawn plaza and Seorak Rodeo Street in the Gangwon Province city, and Asia Economy reported the same three-day attendance estimate. [ 1 , 2 ]
Held under the slogan “Seorak, together dyed,” the program comprised performances, a street parade and youth participation events. Organizers said the aim was a participatory festival shared by residents and tourists, with the event extended beyond the plaza into the downtown streets, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 ]
On the second day, Oct. 3, two parades took place on Seorak Rodeo Street, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., with residents and visitors stopping to watch. The same day, the “Seorak Golden Bell” event drew local teenagers, and performance teams from middle schools in the district took the stage. Opening and closing ceremonies and performances across genres ran over the three days, and fireworks lit the autumn night on the final day, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 ]
The festival was first held in 1966 and has run alongside Sokcho's history for more than half a century. The foundation said it will use visitor reactions and on-site operational experience from this year to prepare next year's event, with plans to improve content that draws participation across generations, including the street parade and youth programs. Mayor Lee Byeong-seon thanked residents and visitors, saying the festival beginning its new 60 years should carry Sokcho's culture and identity and develop into one enjoyed across generations. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The festival is a recurring civic event in Sokcho with more than half a century of history, and this year's edition was framed around drawing residents and tourists into downtown streets as well as the main plaza. Organizers say the visitor response and on-site experience will feed into next year's planning, which suggests the format tested in 2026 will shape future editions.
Key facts
- The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival was held from Oct. 2 to 4 at the Expo lawn plaza and Seorak Rodeo Street in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. [ 1 , 2 ]
- About 150,000 visitors were estimated to have attended over the three days, according to Sokcho city and the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The festival slogan was “Seorak, together dyed,” with programs including performances, a street parade and youth participation events. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Two parades were held on Seorak Rodeo Street on Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A “Seorak Golden Bell” event and performances by local middle school teams were held the same day. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Fireworks closed the festival on its final day. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The festival was first held in 1966. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Mayor Lee Byeong-seon thanked residents and visitors and said the festival should carry Sokcho's culture and identity and develop into one enjoyed across generations. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival took place Oct. 2–4 at the Expo lawn plaza and Seorak Rodeo Street in Sokcho. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Organizers estimated about 150,000 visitors attended over the three days. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The festival slogan was “Seorak, together dyed.” [ 1 , 2 ]
- Two parades were held on Seorak Rodeo Street on Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The festival closed with fireworks on its final day. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The festival was first held in 1966. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation plans to improve next year's programs, including the street parade and youth programs, based on visitor feedback and on-site operational experience. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- How the attendance figure was compiled. Both documents give the three-day total as an estimate of about 150,000, without a breakdown by day or by method.
- Any economic impact or spending figures from the festival. Neither document provides revenue, spending or business-impact data, only visitor numbers.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- First of two parades on Seorak Rodeo Street on the festival's second day, Oct. 3. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Second parade on Seorak Rodeo Street on Oct. 3. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the festival's close and estimated attendance. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the festival's close, citing Sokcho city and the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation. [ 2 ]