The Black Eagles Return After a Year... Yeoju Ceramic Festival Promises an Unprecedented Scale

The 38th Yeoju Ceramic Festival Unveils a Multidimensional Lineup

Held from May 1 to 10 at the Silleuksa Tourist Site

Star-studded Cast Featuring PR Ambassador Pengsoo, Lee Chanwon, Tei, and More

Debut of "Pengsoo Goods"... Ten Days of Ceramics Festival Filling Both Sky and Ground

The "38th Yeoju Ceramic Festival," South Korea’s leading ceramic culture festival, is heightening anticipation with the announcement of an even more impressive additional lineup.

Scheduled to take place from May 1 to May 10, 2026, at the Silleuksa Tourist Site in Yeoju City, this year's festival will be held under the slogan "The Age of Ceramics Opened by King Sejong, Crafted by Yeoju." The event will feature the Air Force Black Eagles Air Show, the beloved character Pengsoo, and top-tier musical performances, transforming it into a multidimensional festival that seamlessly connects the sky with the stage.

Black Eagles. Courtesy of Yeoju City

A Year of Waiting... The Black Eagles’ Overwhelming Air Show to Fill the Skies of Yeoju

One of the festival’s main highlights is the air show by the Republic of Korea Air Force’s special aerobatic team, the Black Eagles. Established in 1967, the Black Eagles are the Air Force’s premier aerobatic team, renowned at home and abroad for their high-level team maneuvers and precision flying. The team has become a symbolic presence, communicating with the public not just through performances but also at national events and festivals.

This year’s air show holds particular significance. Last year, the Black Eagles’ congratulatory flight at the Yeoju Ceramic Festival was unfortunately canceled due to inclement weather. Now, in celebration of Children’s Day, the show is back after a year-long wait, promising to deliver an even more powerful sense of excitement and awe to citizens and tourists attending the festival.

Set against the backdrop of the Namhan River and Silleuksa Temple, the air show will take place at 5:00 p.m. on May 5, Children’s Day. As one of the festival’s core attractions, it is expected to elevate the overall scale and excitement of the event, making the sky over Yeoju its grand stage.

Citizens taking commemorative photos with Pengsoo. Provided by Yeoju City.

Pengsoo. Provided by Yeoju City

Pengsoo, Yeoju City’s PR Ambassador, Joins the Festivities... Turning the Festival into an Interactive Playground

Pengsoo, the PR ambassador for Yeoju City, will also make an appearance at the festival on May 9. Pengsoo, widely loved across all generations for its friendly charm and cheerful character, stands as one of Korea’s most popular icons.

On this day, Pengsoo will actively engage with visitors through interactive programs, leading the event’s atmosphere. Pengsoo will also participate in a quiz event and a special ceramic auction alongside master ceramic artists, further enhancing both the fun and significance of the festival.

Additionally, the festival will unveil a variety of Pengsoo-themed goods, such as soju glasses and mugs, produced in collaboration with the Dojananal Center. These new products are expected to draw significant interest from visitors.

Expanding the Joy of the Festival with Stages Featuring the PR Ambassadors

Alongside previously announced performances by popular artists such as MeloMance, Lee Chanwon, Kim Yongbin, Kim Heejae, Haha, Song Gain, and Jeon Yujin, stages featuring Yeoju City’s PR ambassadors will further enhance the festival’s meaning and quality.

At the opening ceremony, Yeoju City’s PR ambassadors, Chungi and Shindella, will take the stage together to deliver a moving and passionate performance, marking the grand start of the festival.

On May 5, PR ambassador Kim Seongsu will energize the festival with a DJ performance-based festival stage, fostering a lively interaction with the audience and elevating the excitement at the venue.

Finally, on May 9, emotional vocalist Tei will perform, deepening the festival’s overall quality with his soulful music. The combined stage of PR ambassadors and artists is expected to widely showcase Yeoju’s unique charm.

The 38th Yeoju Ceramics Festival Pre-event Leaflet (Performers). Provided by Yeoju City.

An Expanded Lineup... Guest Artists Add Emotion and Excitement to the Stage

The newly announced guest artists will further enrich the festival’s lineup.

On May 2, Jeong Dagyeong, loved for her stable vocals and elegant tone, will join popular trot singer Lee Chanwon to deliver a stage filled with gentle emotion, offering a comforting resonance for the audience.

On May 3, renowned emotional vocalist Wax will perform, captivating the audience with her profound expression and powerful voice, bringing a deeper sense of maturity to the festival. On the same day, MeloMance, known for their signature emotional ballads, will also appear, completing a romantic night for festivalgoers.

On May 4, trot prince Kim Yongbin and the energetic trot singer Jiwon will take the stage, heightening the excitement of the festival with their lively performances and dynamic interaction with the crowd.

With a diverse group of artists, each bringing their own unique style and emotion, the 38th Yeoju Ceramic Festival is set to further establish itself as a comprehensive festival that combines performances, hands-on experiences, and interactive participation.

2026 Yeoju Ceramic Festival A4 Bi-Fold Preliminary Leaflet. Provided by Yeoju City

"The Age of Ceramics Opened by King Sejong, Crafted by Yeoju"... A Multidimensional Festival Blending Tradition, Experience, and Exhibition

In addition to its spectacular performances, the festival will place renewed emphasis on its core ceramic content.

With the slogan "The Age of Ceramics Opened by King Sejong, Crafted by Yeoju," the festival will blend traditional ceramic culture with modern experiential and exhibition content, creating a multidimensional cultural festival that all generations can enjoy together.

Visitors can experience the process of ceramic making up close through various programs, such as traditional pottery-making performances showcasing wheel demonstrations, molding, carving, and firing; hands-on activities using a 1,300°C traditional wood-fired kiln; and pottery wheel experiences where participants can craft their own ceramics.

There will also be interactive programs such as "Happy Ceramics with Pengsoo," a special exhibition highlighting the expansiveness of ceramic art, and an exhibition of the winning entries from the 1st Yeoju Ceramic Design Contest, offering visitors a rich variety of attractions that bridge tradition and modernity.

Lee Choongwoo, the Mayor of Yeoju, stated, "The 38th Yeoju Ceramic Festival has been prepared as a special event that blends Yeoju’s traditional ceramic culture with vibrant performances. In particular, this year’s Black Eagles Air Show and various performance programs are expected to fill both the sky and the ground with passion and inspiration."

He added, "I hope that this festival, set against the beautiful natural scenery of the Namhan River, will become a memorable and special experience for all visitors, and I encourage everyone to come to the festival and enjoy the unique charm of the Yeoju Ceramic Festival."

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