Mokpo Cultural Heritage 'Night Tour' Concludes Successfully

Over 40 Programs Held Over Three Days
Selected for Next Year’s National Heritage Night Tour by the National Heritage Administration

The "2025 Mokpo Cultural Heritage Night Tour" hosted by Mokpo City concluded successfully amid enthusiastic responses from citizens and tourists. Photo by Mokpo City

The "2025 Mokpo Cultural Heritage Night Tour," hosted by Mokpo City in South Jeolla Province, concluded successfully amid enthusiastic responses from citizens and tourists.

Now in its eighth year, the Mokpo Cultural Heritage Night Tour was held under the theme "Modern Times: Stories of Mokpo’s Port Opening," featuring more than 40 performances and hands-on programs throughout the Mokpo Modern History and Culture District.

The opening event kicked off energetically with the "Mokpo Style Street Parade," followed by the musical "Modern Times," set in the era of the port opening, which artistically reenacted the history of the 4·8 Manse Movement and deeply moved the audience.

At the Modern History Museum Hall 2, a variety of music performances were held, including "Korea’s New Orleans: Mokpo Jazz Show," "Mokpo in Rhapsody Time Travel Concert," and "Port Opening Sandae." At Gyeongdong Cathedral, performances by master singers, traditional dance, and creative dance further enriched the romantic autumn night.

In the auditorium of the former Mokpo Public Elementary School, visitors enjoyed demonstrations and exhibitions of jade crafts by Master Artisan Jang Juwon, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage holder, showcasing the artisan’s intricate skills.

The outdoor experience zone featured family-friendly programs such as the "Traditional Games Festival," balloon performances, and 70s and 80s nostalgia performances, all of which proved popular. Experience booths set up by local institutions, including Mokpo National University, Yedam High School, Mokpo Science University, and the Mokpo Cultural Foundation, also drew large crowds.

This year, the festival also utilized the original downtown area to host an expo-style event combining southern regional cuisine and K-Style. Experiences such as the modern trolley bus, 1930s Gyeongseong costume try-on, rooftop gourmet film festival, Namdo 12-dish lunchbox, and the "Matchelin" gourmet tour received high praise from travelers.

Meanwhile, the city announced that, building on this year’s achievements, the "Mokpo Cultural Heritage Night Tour" has been selected as a finalist for the "2026 Local National Heritage Utilization Project" organized by the National Heritage Administration. Next year’s night tour will be themed "130th Anniversary of Autonomous Port Opening," and will feature expanded programs in collaboration with the National Heritage Administration, highlighting Mokpo’s unique stories.

A city official stated, "Through this night tour, Mokpo has established itself as a city people want to visit again," adding, "We will continue to develop Mokpo’s history and cultural heritage into world-class tourism content."

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