Pohang rail forest night festival draws over 80,000 visitors

The city of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province announced Monday that the "2026 Healing Feeling Pohang Rail Forest Night Walk" drew more than 80,000 visitors over two days, June 19-20, wrapping up to strong crowds.

Despite poor weather, large numbers of tourists and residents filled the rail forest trail, where landscape lighting cast a vivid glow against the rain-soaked paths.

Throughout the festival, the rail forest was adorned with a variety of light installations — a snowflake-lined street, a gift-box photo zone, an aurora village and a Rudolph railway road.

A standout attraction was the "Robot Carol Band," which combined culture and technology to offer visitors an unusual spectacle.

On the main stage at Hanter Madang, the opening night on June 19 featured energetic performances by singers Shin Yong-jae and Gyeongseo Yeji, electrifying the crowd under the night sky.

June 20's program offered performances for families, including a civic concert, a musical gala show, a Christmas puppet show and a balloon show.

"We will continue to develop standout content through ecology- and experience-focused festivals that highlight the unique character of the rail forest, and build on its nighttime scenery and rest spaces to grow it into a safe and appealing signature festival brand for Pohang," said Lee Sang-hyeon, head of the Tourism and Convention City Promotion Division.