Some 20,000 young people from across the country gather Sept. 12 in Gongju for a festival themed 'Finding the Complete Me'
The fourth National Youth Festival, "2026 Peak Time Festival," will be held Sept. 12 at Geumgang Singwan Park and surrounding areas in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, under the theme "Finding the Complete Me." About 20,000 young people from across the country are expected to attend.
Co-hosted by South Chungcheong Province and Gongju, the festival marks Youth Day and gives participants a chance to showcase their talents, connect with one another and step away from the pressures of daily life.
Now in its fourth year, the Peak Time Festival has incorporated youth input from the planning stage. A 15-member planning committee drawn from young people across the four cities and provinces of the Chungcheong region has been directly involved in organizing the event and shaping its programs since April.
This year, Gongju was selected as the host city through an open competition, with the festival drawing on the city's historical and cultural heritage. The event venue has also been expanded from Geumgang Singwan Park to include Gongju's original downtown area, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival throughout the city.
The festival's slogan — "The Complete Me, Turning On My Time" — grew out of proposals by the planning committee. It carries the message of pausing amid a busy routine to focus on oneself, embrace the present and prepare for new challenges.
The event kicks off at 1 p.m. with an opening choreography performance by a local arts group, followed by performances by young artists from around the country. A participatory talk concert hosted by comedians Shin Yun-seung and Jo Su-yeon will give attendees a space to share their concerns and stories.
A music festival follows the talk concert, featuring popular singers N.Flying, Car, the Garden, Kwon Jin-ah and Omo, who will fill the autumn evening with live music.
A "Youth-Friendly City Declaration Ceremony" marking Gongju's designation as a youth-friendly city will also take place, along with a drone show. More than 80 hands-on experience and promotional booths will operate inside the festival grounds.
A "Job Planning Day" will support career exploration and job-seeking among young people, offering mentoring sessions with professionals from major companies and public institutions, as well as hands-on programs featuring metaverse, virtual reality and physical AI technologies.
A range of satellite events will round out the program — a "Baro Market" showcasing local agricultural products, a youth policy relay forum, a book festival and a 2026 Book Fair organized by the Gongju City Library, and a "2026 Oh My God Junggooje" at the Gongju Hanok Village.
In keeping with its eco-friendly approach, the festival will introduce reusable containers and AI recycling robots to cut down on single-use plastics. Drinking water will be served in self-cleaning cups, and a carbon-neutrality campaign will encourage visitors to use tumblers and take their trash home.
Shuttle buses will run between Geumgang Singwan Park and Gongju's original downtown area for the convenience of attendees.
The province will set up seating for 3,000 along with rest areas and shade structures. Visitors who make advance reservations through Naver will receive commemorative gifts.
The festival is open to all, and further details are available on the Peak Time Festival's official SNS accounts and the South Chungcheong Youth Portal.
"This year's Peak Time Festival is being prepared not as an event where young people simply watch, but as a space they create and participate in themselves," a provincial official said. "We hope young people from across the country will come to Gongju — a city of beautiful nature and rich history and culture — to step away from their daily lives, focus fully on themselves and make joyful memories."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
