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

The 481st 'birthday party' for Admiral Yi Sun-sin will be held in Euljiro. Jung-gu District in Seoul will host the '2026 Yi Sun-sin Festival' on April 25 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the intersection around Myeongbo Art Hall.

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.

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In celebration of Admiral Yi's birthday (April 28), the front yard of his birthplace will be transformed into a grand birthday party venue. Building on the positive response to last year's debut, the event has been further enriched this year with the concept of the 'Yi Sun-sin 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' where goods are sold, and 'Sun-sin FIELD' lined with popular eateries. The boundaries of the festival have also been expanded. Restaurants near the Seoul Film Center and '1545COFFEE Euljiro Branch' will participate, turning the entire neighborhood into a festive banquet.

The festivities begin with a parade. As street musicians set the mood, a procession of 94 people follows-including a boy portraying Yi Sun-sin, children from local childcare centers dressed in Joseon-era costumes, and the Navy honor guard. The parade route stretches 160 meters from Chungmuro Jingo-ga to the Myeongbo intersection. The role of young Yi Sun-sin will be played by four elementary school students from Jung-gu who share the same birthday as the admiral.

The festival's main highlight is the 'Iron Man Yi Sun-sin' contest. In the neighborhood competition, teams of four from each of the 15 districts will compete in a 481-meter rowing machine relay and archery to set records. Individual contests include pull-ups (men's division), hanging endurance (women's division), and jump rope (boys' division). The competition is so popular that over 280 people participated in the preliminary rounds held on April 18.

The highlight of the event is a 3-meter-tall birthday cake sculpture, crafted using congratulatory cards written by 481 residents to the admiral. 'Yi Sun-sin Members Cards,' commemorating the year of Yi's birth (1545), will be distributed to the first 1,545 visitors. With just one card, participants can borrow party items such as headbands and sunglasses for free and become eligible for the prize draw.

'Sun-sin FIELD,' organized by the Jung-gu Commercial District Development Center, will feature 25 vendors along a 165-meter stretch. The lineup includes Taegukdang, the oldest bakery in Seoul; Geum Dwaeji Restaurant, a favorite among prominent business leaders; Eobu's Netting, Seoul’s first dried fish store to reach centenary status; the original Sindang-dong tteokbokki shop, Maboknim Maknaeadeulne; and All This Taco, a hot spot among young people. There will also be a talk show with renowned Chinese cuisine chef Jeong Jiseon, as well as hands-on experiences making turtle ship tarts and birthday cakes.

If you need a break, you can watch the film 'Hansan' at the Seoul Film Center next to the festival grounds. It will be screened twice, at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This year, 60 'Sun-sin Jigi' community volunteers-four times more than last year-will be participating. Yangbong Nonghyup will unveil a specially produced '2026 Limited Edition Honey Sun-sin Doll.'

Kim Gilseong, Mayor of Jung-gu, stated, "There is already great interest in this festival, now in its second year," adding, "I hope you create joyful memories by visiting the even richer Yi Sun-sin Festival this year."

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

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