Gangwon Tourism Foundation lays the groundwork for Gangwon-style wellness
After starlight yoga, a spectacular drone show lights up the night sky
Starlight yoga is a wellness therapy rooted in the traditions of South Pacific and Indian Ocean communities, who practiced it at midnight — when the air itself seemed to shift — to align the body with the sacred energy of the heavens and promote good health.
That tradition is coming to Anmok Beach in Gangneung, the coastal city famed for its coffee culture. The Gangwon Tourism Foundation is hosting the event.
The "Starlight Yoga" session set for June 20 is the foundation's signature wellness tourism offering, inviting participants to find balance of body and mind through yoga and meditation in a natural setting.
The inaugural event, held at Cheongnyeongpowon in Yeongwol in April, drew about 170 participants and received high satisfaction ratings. Buoyed by that response, the Gangneung edition has been expanded to accommodate roughly 400 people.
As the sun slowly sets on the day of the event, the white sand of Anmok Beach will transform into an outdoor yoga space shared by hundreds. Against the backdrop of the East Sea's blue waters and the sound of waves, participants will stretch and unwind, then meditate beneath the stars — a rare chance to set aside the fatigue of daily life.
The program will be led by well-known yoga influencers and professional instructors, and is designed so that beginners and experienced practitioners alike can join without hesitation. Dedicated spaces will also be provided for families with children and for pregnant participants, making it a wellness program the whole family can enjoy.
Before the main session, participants can take part in a range of side programs — profile photo shoots, starlight tarot readings, food therapy experiences, seashell necklace making and singing bowl sessions. These activities, scattered across the beach on a summer night, are expected to fill Anmok Beach with a festival atmosphere well before the yoga begins.
Every participant will receive a welcome kit containing a massage ball, an LED rose, Gangwon heritage-grain bread and a potato keyring. Organizers will also hand out 5,000-won vouchers for Gangneung Pay, encouraging participants to explore local shops and restaurants and extend their stay in the city after the event.
Several companies are joining as sponsors — Dongwon F&B GNC, OB Beer, Melkin Sports, Matmari and OFH-1 — contributing items including GNC multivitamins, Cass All Zero non-alcoholic beer and premium yoga mats. The collaboration positions the event as a mutually beneficial wellness tourism model bringing together private enterprise and the tourism sector.
The highlight of the Gangneung event will be a drone show following the meditation program. Hundreds of drones will light up the night sky above Anmok Beach, delivering a special message unique to Starlight Yoga and giving participants an unforgettable summer night.
The foundation also plans to encourage participants to visit the Anmok café strip, Gangneung's top tourist attractions, and local restaurants and accommodations before and after the event, with the aim of boosting overnight stays and contributing to the local economy.
"Starlight Yoga is Gangwon's signature wellness tourism content, created together by nature and people," said Choi Seong-hyeon, chief executive of the Gangwon Tourism Foundation. "Through this special experience — where the East Sea's night waters, starlight, yoga and a drone show all come together — I hope participants can fully feel the healing charm that only Gangwon can offer."
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