The 28th Bonghwa Sweet Smelt Festival, the signature summer event of Bonghwa-gun in North Gyeongsang Province, will run for nine days from July 25 to Aug. 2 along the Naeseongcheon River in Bonghwa-eup.
Bonghwa-gun said Tuesday the festival has been designed as an extended-stay summer event, expanding family-oriented water facilities, cultural performances and rest areas alongside its signature sweet smelt fishing experiences set against the county's pristine natural scenery.
The festival's flagship activity, bandujabi — catching sweet smelt using a traditional scoop net — will be held three times daily at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Bare-hand smelt catching will run three times on weekdays and four times on weekends.
Participation fees are 12,000 won ($8) for on-site bookings and 10,000 won for online advance reservations. Of that amount, 5,000 won is refunded as Bonghwa Love gift vouchers redeemable at festival venues and local businesses.
New this year, a competitive fishing contest — the Bandujabi and Bare-Hand Smelt Champion Selection — will challenge participants to catch the most smelt within a set time, with on-site entry open to all.
A team competition called "Sweet Smelt Championship: War of Solidarity," featuring local institutions including the county office, county council, police and fire department, will promote community spirit. An international contest, the "B-Global Bandujabi Challenge," will target overseas tourists.
Family-friendly attractions have also been significantly expanded. Children and parents alike can enjoy a range of play and rest spaces — a kids cafe, a family playground, a sand play area, a children's water park and a healing station center, all themed around the sweet smelt.
Evening programming blends performances with food. Nightly highlights include an opening ceremony concert, the 2nd Yi Mong-ryong Selection Contest, the Silver Bonghwa Arts Festival, a neon live music show, a street noraebang with singer Chang-hyeon, a heartstrings concert by Choi Baek-ho, a retro water-splash show and a closing ceremony performance. A food offering called the "Silver Delivery Pub" will pair food trucks with delivery menus from local restaurants.
The "Bonghwa Community Day" event will bring together residents from 10 towns and townships alongside civic groups for a bare-hand smelt catching relay and community programs, creating a shared space for locals and tourists.
"This year we have made the signature experience programs even more rewarding and significantly strengthened family water facilities, indoor rest areas, and evening performances and food offerings," a Bonghwa-gun official said. "We will showcase a summer festival unique to Bonghwa, where visitors can enjoy cool smelt fishing and water play during the day and performances and food at night."
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