Enjoy a Festival in the Valley and Run the Forest Trail... 'Jangsu Cool Valley Festival' to Be Held

Forest Trail Race Draws Over 2,000 Participants

To mark Constitution Day, Jangsu County in North Jeolla Province is launching a campaign to attract summer tourists by hosting both a valley festival and a mountain trail race. The county's plan is to boost the local economy by promoting stay-type tourism, offering unique sports events such as a forest trail run, and allowing visitors to enjoy water activities and performances in the cool valleys.

On July 15, Jangsu County announced that the "4th Jangsu Cool Valley Festival" will take place from July 17 to 19 at the Jangsu Banghwa-dong Natural Recreation Forest. During the same period, from July 18 to 19, the "2026 Jangsu Cool Valley Trail Race" will also be held.

This year marks the fourth edition of the Jangsu Cool Valley Festival, which is themed "A Day of Happiness in a Valley Embraced by Nature." Set against the backdrop of pristine valleys and forests, the festival will showcase a range of performances and hands-on programs.

The festival is designed as a participatory event, combining water fun, cultural performances, and experiential activities.

The main program, "Cool Valley Valley Night," is an event where visitors can enjoy EDM performances and water activities together. This year, it will be held over two days—Saturday and Sunday—offering an even richer array of spectacles and entertainment. The "Bare-Handed Trout Catching Experience," a favorite among family visitors, will also run throughout the festival, allowing children and parents to create lasting summer memories together.

The Jangsu Banghwa-dong Natural Recreation Forest, known for its lush forests and valleys, is a leading summer holiday spot that attracts many family tourists during the vacation season. Recently, there has been a nationwide trend of expanding regional festivals that combine experiential programs and cultural events centered around natural recreation forests.

The "2026 Jangsu Cool Valley Trail Race," which takes place alongside the festival, will be expanded from a single-day event to two days starting this year. Around 2,000 participants, who pre-registered from across the country, will run an 18.8-kilometer course and take in the natural scenery of Jangsu.

The event is organized and hosted by Rock and Run Co., Ltd., with sponsorship from Jangsu County. It will start at 7:30 a.m. at Jangsu Sports Complex and follows a single course to the Banghwa-dong Natural Recreation Forest. Rather than emphasizing competition for records, the focus is on experiencing nature while running through forests and along the valley.

The course passes through Dongchon-ri Ancient Tombs, Nongae Paragliding Site, and Sadubong Ridge, continuing onto the Banghwa-dong Ecological Trail and the recreation forest. The ability to enjoy both dense forests and valley scenery has led to its reputation as a healing trail course.

During the event, the county will hold guerrilla events utilizing water activities, offer prize giveaways for users of local businesses to encourage tourist spending, and strengthen safety measures by arranging shuttle buses, professional safety staff, medical teams, and ambulances.

Hoonshik Choi, the Governor of Jangsu County, said, "We have prepared for visitors to enjoy Jangsu’s signature summer festival along with a trail race that blends forest paths, valleys, and festivities," adding, "We hope families, friends, and couples will visit Jangsu during the Constitution Day holiday to fully enjoy a cool summer bestowed by pristine nature."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.