Gyeryong Military Culture Festival
Oct 1 – Oct 5, 2026 · Chungcheongnam-do
The 2026 edition ran Oct 1 – Oct 5, 2026. 2027 dates have not been announced yet; this page is updated automatically when the organizer publishes them. Check the official site for the latest.
Overview
The Gyeryong Military Culture Festival is a major defense-themed cultural event held in Gyeryong, home to the headquarters of the Republic of Korea Army, Navy, and Air Force. First launched in 2007, the festival marks its 16th edition in 2026 and will run for five days from October 1 to 5. The festival opens with performances by top artists, followed by military band and honor guard shows and special performances by the Army performance team on the main and secondary stages and throughout the airstrip. This year will also feature the largest road parade in the festival’s history, along with a large-scale street parade involving some 700 participants, adding even more energy to the event. Visitors can take part in a wide range of hands-on military experiences, including military equipment and shooting activities, the Extreme Field Training Challenge, a Comprehensive Military Camp Experience, and VR and AR programs. The festival also offers history lectures, a special video pavilion with a 20-meter LED screen, a children’s theme park, and many other programs, making it a distinctive celebration of military culture for visitors of all ages.
Why go
This is Korea's largest defense-themed festival, held in Gyeryong, home to the headquarters of the Republic of Korea Army, Navy, and Air Force. The 2026 edition (its 16th) features military band and honor guard performances, a large-scale street parade with about 700 participants, and hands-on military experiences including equipment displays, shooting activities, and VR/AR programs. It's a rare chance to see Korea's armed forces up close in a festival setting rather than a formal ceremony.
Getting there from Seoul
Take a KTX or intercity train from Seoul to Daejeon (roughly an hour), then transfer to a local train or bus toward Gyeryong-si, as the venue sits around the Gyeryongdae runway outside the town center. A taxi from Gyeryong station to the festival grounds is the most straightforward last leg given the site's location near the military base.
Tips
- Carry photo ID, since the site is adjacent to a military base and security checks are possible.
- General admission is free, but some hands-on programs (equipment, shooting, camp experiences) charge separate fees.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection, as activities are spread across open airstrip areas with little shade.
Best for: families, military history enthusiasts, photographers.
Program
Citizen-Participatory Themed Performance, Military Band & Honor Guard Performances, Navy·Air Force·Marine Corps Promotional Zones (Military Equipment and Shooting Experiences), Military Camp Experience Course (Shooting, Rappelling, High-Altitude Mock Tower, Survival Games, etc.)
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
Other festivals in Chungcheongnam-do
Daejeon
Yuseong Ondal
Aug 14 – Dec 11, 2026
Yuseong Ondal, a new charm of Yuseong Hot Springs, is a stay-based tourism revitalization program that offers those seeking a comfortable pause from their tiring daily lives a special rest they can enjoy while staying. This event is filled with a variety of programs, including the Yuseong Healing Yoga Class at the Lawn Square of Gyeryong Spatel, which combines aromatherapy and tea ceremony for a true five-senses relaxation experience, and the Yuseong Onbit Outdoor Cinema, where visitors can enjoy immersive movies on a large screen with wireless headsets while feeling the cool breeze. In addition, the Biryongjae Small Concert takes place in the front yard of Biryongjae, a former presidential villa, offering beautiful melodies spanning all generations, from vocal music and classical to film scores, along with the Run Along Gapcheon Challenge, an ongoing, always-open program where participants can run along the beautiful waterway of Gapcheon to Yuseong Hot Springs District for health and vitality. Furthermore, a mobile pop-up truck promoting Yuseong Hot Springs' brand 'Yu-on' is on hand, and program participants are given coupons that can be used at hotels, cafes, bakeries, and other businesses within Yuseong Hot Springs District, adding warm vitality to the local economy. For detailed schedules and program applications for Yuseong Ondal, which offers a clean, vitalizing and relaxed day at Yuseong Hot Springs, visitors can easily proceed through the official website (yu-on.com).
Daejeon
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The Citywide Energy Walk Festival is an eco-friendly energy participation program organized to commemorate the 2026 Daejeon World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-9). It is an event where participants can walk together through downtown Daejeon in the fall, experience the value of energy and the environment firsthand, and reflect on a sustainable future.
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site