Suncheon, the Autumn Festival City: A Rich Blend of Food, Art, Film, and Companion Animal Culture

Suncheon to Host Back-to-Back Festivals:
Food and Art Festival, Animal Film Festa Set to Open

Suncheon City in South Jeolla Province announced on October 23 that a series of local festivals will be held, starting with the opening of the 2025 Suncheon Animal Film Festa (SAFF) on October 24, followed by the Suncheon Food and Art Festival on October 31.

The Suncheon Animal Film Festa, taking place at Ocheon Green Square from October 24 to 26, is the only outdoor film festival in Korea that can be enjoyed with companion animals.

Animal Film Festa leaflet. Provided by Suncheon City

This year’s theme is “Walking Together (同行).” The festival is divided into four sections: nature, animals, friends, and family, featuring a total of 10 films. The opening film is “On the Road with Mungchi,” the latest work by director Oh Sungyun, while the closing film “Good Boy” explores human-animal connection from a dog’s perspective. The opening ceremony will feature a live performance by singer-songwriter Jeokjae, promising an emotionally rich autumn night.

At Ocheon Green Square, a starlit outdoor theater will be set up, accompanied by a “Garden Classic” concert, a talk concert with voice actor Kim Jang, a pop-up store for the popular game “Cat and Soup,” a pet market, and other side events. In particular, the “Companion Animal Culture Festival” and “Dangdang Suncheon” will be held together, expanding the event into a comprehensive companion culture festival that blends culture, art, and industry.

A city official stated, “We aim to create a festival where people and companion animals can bond through film, and citizens can experience both relaxation and inspiration in nature. We hope this will help establish Suncheon as a city of companion animal culture.”

Food and Art Festival Gift Certificate Sales Poster. Provided by Suncheon City

Even before the excitement of the Animal Film Festa subsides, the central street of the old downtown will be filled with art and flavor from October 31 to November 2. The Suncheon Food and Art Festival is a signature autumn event, themed around the harmony of local cuisine, art, and people.

Festival gift certificates, which have been on sale prior to the event, are gaining great popularity. The city is offering advance sales at a 5% discount until October 30, and the certificates can be used until November 9.

The gift certificates can be used not only at the festival site but also at over 250 affiliated stores in the old downtown area, with no restrictions on product categories, serving as a catalyst to revitalize the local economy.

Merchants around Jungang-ro expressed their anticipation, saying, “As more customers seek out the festival gift certificates, the area is becoming lively earlier than usual. We hope this festival will encourage more citizens to keep visiting the old downtown.”

This autumn, Suncheon is more vibrant than ever, with food, art, film, and companion animal culture harmoniously coming together. Visitors can enjoy emotional moments on an outdoor screen surrounded by nature and savor food and art in the heart of the city.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu stated, “These two festivals represent a Suncheon-style model where culture naturally becomes part of citizens’ daily lives. We believe they will help revitalize the local economy and transform Suncheon into a happier city for its residents.”

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