Chilgok County Rises as a National Festival Hub with Chilgok Nakdonggang Peace Festival!

Admission, Waiting, and Safety Managed Seamlessly with AI Smart Bracelet
A Land of National Defense and Peace

The Chilgok Nakdonggang Peace Festival was held from October 16 to 19, 2025, at the Chilgokbo Ecological Park area in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province.

With the introduction of a new model called the 'AI Smart Festival Venue,' the festival achieved record-breaking attendance.

Visitors enjoyed hands-on activities without waiting, thanks to the AI reservation system, and responded that the stage-featuring a full LED front and national-level performance teams-was "even more spectacular than paid concerts."

The highlight of this year’s festival was the 'AI Smart Bracelet.' Visitors entered the venue wearing bracelets embedded with QR codes.

Applications for hands-on activities were also conducted through the AI reservation system, eliminating the need to wait on-site.

When visitors scanned their bracelets at the booth screens, their waiting order was automatically registered, and as their turn approached, they received a text message on their mobile phones stating, "Your experience will begin in 10 minutes."

This system allowed visitors to enjoy the festival freely without waiting in line.

Each bracelet was linked to a personal QR code, enabling quick location tracking in case of a missing person. Parking lot entry and exit were also managed through an AI-based license plate recognition (LPR) system, with real-time updates on congestion levels. In essence, a single bracelet served as an admission ticket, a safety device, and a convenience service.

Greetings from County Governor Kim Jaewook and Various Photos of the Chilgok Nakdong River Peace Festival Event / Photo by Kim Ihwan

The stage was also upgraded, leaving visitors amazed at how "it was more dazzling than paid concerts." The advanced stage production, tailored to the cutting-edge system, naturally increased the time visitors spent at the festival.

The festival’s high level of completion was also evident in the swift process of booking performers. By securing early contracts with popular singers before their appearance fees surged, organizers managed to book them at just one-third of the usual cost. In fact, some performers have since become so popular after appearing on TV that it would now be difficult to book them. Early contracts not only elevated the festival’s quality but also maximized budget efficiency.

On the opening day, October 16, 50,000 people attended, while on October 17, when the top seven finalists from "Mr. Trot" performed, the number of visitors surged to 90,000.

On October 18, the '205 Culture Street Festa' was held in connection with the Chilgok Nakdonggang Peace Festival in the original downtown area of Waegwan, attracting 130,000 visitors in a single day. By the end of the festival, the total number of visitors was expected to approach 400,000.

The festival stayed true to its core theme of 'National Defense and Peace.' Every time a war veteran entered, the audience stood up and applauded, and a themed musical honoring war heroes was performed on stage.

As the narration stated, "Your sacrifice made today’s peace possible," and scenes depicting the horrors of war unfolded, many in the audience were visibly moved to tears. A county official commented, "This was not a mere formal ceremony, but a genuine festival where the public could truly feel the meaning of national defense."

Fan clubs of performing singers such as Park Seojin and Kim Yongbin visited Chilgok during the festival and purchased 500 boxes of local agricultural products, resulting in significant economic benefits.

Although there were unexpected challenges, emergency cooperation between the military units and the Chilgok National Land Management Office ensured stabilization after overnight work.

This year’s festival, which combined AI technology, a large-scale stage, and respect for war veterans, also received praise for its diverse hands-on activities.

Major content such as the '55 Game' and '328 Treasure Hunt' were designed not just as simple games, but as experiences to reflect on history.

The '55 Game,' inspired by the Nakdong River Defense Line battle during the Korean War, symbolized the fierce 55-day struggle, while the treasure hunt program set on Hill 328 reminded participants of the significance of excavating remains.

This year also saw a significant increase in resident participation. Through the 'Find the Star of Chilgok' program, residents who passed local preliminaries took to the main stage to perform.

Local organizations also performed on stage, promoting regional culture. An event official remarked, "Now, the stars of the festival are the visitors and residents. This was not a festival made by Chilgok, but a festival made together with Chilgok."

Kim Jaewook, Governor of Chilgok County, stated, "By utilizing AI technology for smart operations, we enhanced efficiency and convenience, and through the full LED stage and various hands-on experiences, we elevated the standard of local festivals. It was a meaningful time as many people visited, shared the significance of national defense and peace, and contributed to revitalizing the local economy."

He added, "Going forward, we will carefully address the inconveniences experienced by the elderly in the smart festival operation process, further advance our programs, and develop this event into Korea’s leading peace festival in both name and substance."

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