Night festival to be held at Joseon-era administrative fortress in Goheung

Goheung-gun's former place name: Heungyang-hyeon

Goheung-gun will hold the "2026 Goheung Cultural Heritage Night — Heungyang-hyeon Eupseong 1441" over two days, Friday and Saturday, at the Heungyang-hyeon Eupseong site, the former county office grounds.

The event was selected through a Cultural Heritage Administration grant program. It commemorates the historical origins of the fortress — in 1441, the 23rd year of King Sejong's reign, several smaller districts were consolidated into Heungyang-hyeon, the administrative seat of what is now Goheung-gun. Each evening's program runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This year's highlight before the official opening is a joint parade by the Navy's Third Fleet and the 7391-3rd Battalion, recreating the ceremonial entry of the Heungyang naval forces.

On Friday, the parade departs from a traffic circle near the Paris Baguette in Goheung-eup at 5 p.m. and proceeds to Jonsimdan Historic Cultural Park, the main festival venue, evoking the founding spirit of Heungyang-hyeon and the region's patriotic heritage. The formal opening ceremony follows at 6 p.m.

From 6 p.m., Kim Dae-gyun — a master of tightrope walking and holder of National Intangible Heritage No. 58 — will perform "Thrilling Heungyang Tightrope Walking," drawing audiences with acrobatics and comic banter.

From 8 to 9 p.m. on the main stage at Heungyang-jeong, history lecturer Choi Tae-seong will deliver a humanities talk titled "The Story of Heungyang That Protected Joseon," offering an accessible account of the history and role of the Joseon-era Heungyang naval forces.

County chief Kong Yeong-min said the area around the birthplace of painter Cheon Gyeong-ja will also host an exhibition of her works alongside a display of prize-winning entries from the 12th Mok Il-sin National Contemporary Poetry Competition during the festival, allowing visitors to take in the region's artistic and literary heritage.