In the Heart of Euljiro, Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Birthday Party to Be Held

Jung-gu to Host the "2026 Yi Sun-sin Festival" on April 25

The 481st "birthday party" for Admiral Yi Sun-sin will take place in Euljiro. Jung-gu, Seoul will hold the "2026 Yi Sun-sin Festival" on April 25 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. around the Myeongbo Art Hall intersection.

Kim Gilseong, Mayor of Jung-gu, is proclaiming the urban brand 'Yi Sun-sin 1545 Jung-gu' at the opening ceremony last year. Provided by Jung-gu.

To commemorate Admiral Yi’s birthday (April 28), the front yard of the general’s birthplace will be transformed into a grand birthday party venue. Following the positive response to last year’s inaugural event, this year’s festival has been enriched with the concept of "Yi Sun-sin’s Birthday Party."

The festival grounds are divided into four sections: "Sun-sin ROCK" for performances; "Sun-sin PLAY" packed with hands-on activities; "Sun-sin MARKET" selling festival merchandise; and "Sun-sin FIELD" lined with famous eateries. The boundaries of the festival have been expanded, with the Seoul Film Center, "1545COFFEE Euljiro Branch," and nearby restaurants participating to turn the entire alley into a festive banquet.

The parade will mark the start of the festivities. As street musicians set the mood, they will be followed by a child Yi Sun-sin, children from a care center dressed in Joseon-era costumes, and a naval honor guard—94 participants in total. The parade will cover 160 meters from Chungmuro Jingaogae to Myeongbo intersection. The role of young Yi Sun-sin will be played by four elementary students from Jung-gu, each born on the same day as the admiral.

The signature event is the "Iron Man Yi Sun-sin" competition. In the inter-dong contest, teams of four representing 15 districts will compete in a 481-meter rowing machine relay and archery to set records. Individual events include pull-ups (men’s division), hanging endurance (women’s division), and jump rope (boys’ division). The excitement is palpable, with more than 280 participants in the preliminary round held on April 18 alone.

The highlight is a 3-meter-tall birthday cake sculpture, created from congratulatory cards written by 481 residents to the admiral. To celebrate the year of the admiral’s birth (1545), "Yi Sun-sin Members Cards" will be distributed to the first 1,545 attendees. With just one of these cards, guests can borrow party items such as headbands and sunglasses for free, and also receive a chance to win prizes in a lottery.

"Sun-sin FIELD," organized by the Jung-gu Commercial District Development Center, will feature 25 stalls stretching across 165 meters. Seoul’s oldest bakery Taegukdang, Geum Dwaeji Sikdang frequented by prominent business leaders, Eobu’s Net—recognized as Seoul’s first centennial dried fish shop, Maboklim Maknae Adeulne (the original Sindang-dong Tteokbokki), and the trendy Oldies Taco popular among young people, will all be present. The event will also include a talk show with Chinese cuisine master Chef Jeong Jiseon and hands-on classes for making Turtle Ship tarts and birthday cakes.

For those who need a break, the Seoul Film Center next to the festival will screen the movie "Hansan" twice at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sixty "Sun-sin Jigi" resident volunteers—four times more than last year—will help run the event. The Yangbong Agricultural Cooperative has created a special "2026 Limited Edition Honey Sun-sin Plush" to unveil at the festival.

Kim Gilsung, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "There is already a great deal of interest in this second annual festival," adding, "We hope you will visit the even richer Yi Sun-sin Festival this year and make wonderful memories."

Yi Sun-sin Festival Poster. Provided by Jung-gu.

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