2026 Jukbyeon Port Seafood Festival closes with 80,000 visitors

Jukbyeon Port in Uljin-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, was packed with autumn tourists over the weekend.

Uljin-gun said Monday that the 2026 Jukbyeon Port Seafood Festival, held at Jukbyeon Port from Friday through Sunday, drew 80,000 visitors before wrapping up to widespread acclaim.

This year's festival drew strong responses from tourists, blending creative advance promotions, voluntary participation by local residents, and a wide array of food offerings and hands-on programs.

A standout marketing strategy played a key role in the festival's success. Uljin-gun promoted the event at locations including in front of the National Assembly in Seoul and at Mapo Station, using witty slogans such as "Do you know the Way? I know the flatfish way" and "Repent! Come to Jukbyeon Port, where the raw fish is sinfully good!"

At the Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival and a North Gyeongsang Province residents' day event, Uljin-gun Mayor Hwang I-ju appeared in the costume of a Joseon-era county magistrate to promote the festival, drawing attention with a differentiated marketing approach.

At the festival grounds, a range of programs kept visitors engaged — free seafood tastings, fish-filleting shows, bare-hand live fish catching, on-the-spot seafood auctions and a mul-hoe (cold raw fish soup) performance.

A highlight was the reenactment of "Sibiryeong Bajigekun Nori," a traditional folk performance depicting porters who once carried goods over mountain passes, which drew attention as an unusual showcase of the region's history and culture.

The official opening ceremony on Saturday featured a fishing boat parade across the waters off Jukbyeon Port, with vessels decked out in prayer for a bountiful catch. A fireworks display and performances by popular singers Park Ju-hee, Park Hyun-bin and Park Seo-jin followed, bringing the festival atmosphere to its peak.

On the opening day, a performance by singer Na Tae-ju lifted the crowd's spirits. The final day featured a public recording of MBN's "Jeonkuk Star Tansaeng," a national talent search program, and a community harmony event that brought the festival to a close.

The county noted that the festival carried added significance as a collaborative effort among local government, residents, merchants and fishing industry workers.

"We will continue to spread the word about Uljin's fresh seafood, beautiful sea and warm hospitality, and work to make Jukbyeon Port a place visitors want to return to and Uljin a destination where tourists stay year-round," Mayor Hwang said.