On the opening day of the Naju Yongsan River Festival, 90,000 visitors gathered, signaling a successful event.
Particularly popular were the nighttime drone and fireworks show, along with performances by popular artists.
According to Naju City, despite it being a weekday, visitors began arriving early at the festival site, the 120,000-pyeong flower garden along the Yongsan River, with attendance estimated at over 90,000.
Citizens and tourists enjoyed the vibrant autumn flowers, including millions of cosmos, sunflowers, zinnias, and buckwheat, taking photos and savoring the fall atmosphere.
The photo zone set up in the Sky Lawn area was a hotspot for families.
Various topiaries, including 'Yeongdari,' a representation of otters native to the Yongsan River, captured the attention of children, while the expansive lawn allowed kids to run freely and enjoy the festival.
The '2026 Naju Agricultural Festa,' held in conjunction with the Yongsan River Festival, also drew large crowds.
Visitors could explore and purchase local agricultural products such as Naju pears, rice, Hanwoo beef, and peppers, while participating in agricultural experience programs like sweet potato harvesting and rice threshing, providing a unique blend of play and learning for families with children.
In the Agricultural Festa zone, an event offered keycap keyrings to visitors who took photos at the photo zone.
As night fell, the atmosphere reached its peak.
The main stage at Yongsan River Garden featured a themed performance of the musical 'Queen Janghwa,' starring musical actors Luna and Lee Chung-joo.
'Queen Janghwa' is a creative musical inspired by the historical connection between Goryeo's founder Wang Geon and Queen Janghwa from Naju, artistically depicting Naju's history and culture. This year, the production was fully revamped to enhance the narrative flow, character emotions, music, and stage direction.
Luna, playing Queen Janghwa, showcased her strong vocal ability and nuanced emotional expression, while Lee Chung-joo, as Wang Geon, delivered a performance that captured both the charisma and humanity of his character.
Following the main performance, a drone light show and fireworks display illuminated the night sky over the Yongsan River.
Numerous drones flew in sync with music, depicting the history and future vision of Naju through various light images, followed by a colorful fireworks display.
The opening celebration featured performances by singer Park Ji-hyun and musical actor Hong Ji-min.
This year's Naju Yongsan River Festival will continue until the 11th.
On the 8th, a 'Musical Dramatic Show' featuring Ivy, Jo Kwon, and Michael Lee will take place, along with the Naju City Choir's representative musical 'Arangsa Abisa,' performances by public institution clubs, and 'Together and Apart Orchestra 16.'
Subsequent days will feature representative performances, family experiences, the Naju Agricultural Festa, the Yongsan River Family Garden Festival, and culinary and exhibition events catering to various generations and tastes.
Naju City has urged visitors to use the free direct shuttle buses, as a large number of attendees are expected during the festival period.
Free shuttle buses connecting three areas—Naju City Hall, KEPCO KDN, and Yongsanpo Sports Park—will run every 10 minutes without intermediate stops, taking just 15 minutes to reach the festival site.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.