Gwangyang K-POP Festival Establishes Itself as a Global Tourism Event

K-POP, 7080 & Trot Receive Great Response

Global Tourism Festival Generates Economic Ripple Effect of Over 4.2 Billion Won

Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced that the global tourism festival, the ‘3rd Gwangyang K-POP Festival,’ has successfully concluded.

On the 20th and 21st, the city held K-POP performances and 7080 & Trot concerts over two days at Gwangyang Public Stadium, bringing together domestic and international tourists to satisfy citizens' cultural thirst and enhance the image of a global tourism city.

[Photo by Gwangyang-si]

The ‘3rd K-POP Festival,’ which sold out within 4 minutes of ticket opening, predicted success with its intense interest and enthusiasm, attracting audiences from all over the country including Seoul and Ulsan, establishing itself as a global tourism festival that transcends generations, tastes, and borders.

On the first day, five top idol groups?Oh My Girl, Apink, Kwon Eunbi, fromis_9, and B.O.?took the stage with dazzling performances that captivated the audience’s emotions.

Before the main performances, four winning teams from the youth dance competition energized the festival atmosphere with their lively and powerful energy, having overcome fierce competition with outstanding skills.

Following a congratulatory video marking the opening of the performances, B.O appeared to roaring cheers, captivating the packed audience with his unique emotional tone and distinctive stage presence.

After Kwon Eunbi, fromis_9, and Oh My Girl, Apink took the final stage, eliciting strong cheers and excitement with their solid vocal skills and unique charm.

On the second day, popular domestic singers boasting vocal prowess and a wide musical spectrum such as Gummy, Kim Bumsoo, Lee Chanwon, and Kim Hyunjung delivered explosive performances that deeply moved the audience.

Finally, a multimedia fireworks show erupted amid the cheers and applause of the spectators, marking the finale of the historic 3rd Gwangyang K-POP Festival with an emotional finish that left a lasting impression.

The city prioritized safety in hosting the successful K-POP Festival, holding multiple progress report meetings and comprehensive strategy meetings, and conducting joint on-site inspections to ensure thorough preparation.

To facilitate smooth traffic and parking, free shuttle buses operated until the return trips, and an organic cooperation system was established with related organizations such as the police station, fire station, Marine Corps Veterans Association, and Model Drivers Association to prevent safety accidents.

Additionally, through meticulous simulations of tourist routes, restrooms, and waste disposal sites, efforts were made to create a safe and comfortable performance environment.

In response to the sudden chilly weather, thoughtful preparations such as knee blankets and hand warmers were provided for vulnerable groups.

The city conducted comprehensive online and offline promotions to create a festive atmosphere, and on the day of the performance, live streaming on YouTube vividly conveyed the festival’s excitement to the world.

By holding a youth dance competition, the festival provided a stage for aspiring musicians who will lead the future of K-POP to showcase their talent and passion, branding Gwangyang as a vibrant young city.

For foreigners visiting Gwangyang to attend the festival, interpretation services were provided, enhancing the purpose of the global tourism festival and elevating the image of Gwangyang as a global tourism city.

Above all, the volunteer efforts of citizens and civic groups in areas such as beverage service, interpretation, and parking, along with the high level of civic consciousness, stood out, presenting the potential for a sustainable global tourism festival.

Gwangyang City analyzed that the surge in visitors including tourists enhanced the city brand value and generated an economic ripple effect of approximately 4.2 billion KRW through tourist and local resident spending.

In particular, as the festival was held over two weekend days, there was a sharp increase in family tourists from distant areas such as Seoul and the metropolitan area, resulting in long lines at food booths operated by local businesses and revitalizing nearby commercial districts including food and lodging, significantly benefiting the local economy.

A citizen said, “With the K-POP performances and 7080 & Trot concerts held consecutively, my middle school daughter enjoyed the first day, and my spouse and I enjoyed the second day’s performances. I hope that in the future, festivals that encompass generations and tastes will be held annually in Gwangyang so that we can enjoy performances without having to go to Seoul or other big cities.”

Mayor Jeong Inhwa of Gwangyang, who attended the festival for two consecutive days, said, “The 3rd Gwangyang K-POP Festival was a global tourism festival that satisfied citizens’ cultural enjoyment needs by hosting performances that were previously concentrated in the metropolitan area in Gwangyang, revitalized the local economy, and branded the city as a sustainable premium tourism city.”

He added, “The driving force behind this festival’s success was the high awareness and deep cultural passion of our Gwangyang citizens, equipped with safety, order, and volunteer spirit. We will continue to hold the Gwangyang K-POP Festival, combining globally popular K-POP with high-quality Gwangyang tourism content, to leap forward as a global tourism city.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.