Bungeo Island in Hwacheon to Become a National Stage for Drone Enthusiasts' Imagination

Hwacheon to Host First 'Hwacheon Bungeo Island Drone Festa' on August 15-16
VR, Racing, and Aerial Photography Competitions
Total Prize Pool of 15 Million Won Awarded in Local Gift Certificates and Agricultural Products

Bungeo Island in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province, is being transformed into a competition ground for drone enthusiasts nationwide. A variety of events will take place, from competitions testing participants’ skills in drone racing, virtual reality (VR), and aerial photography, to a "Drone Waterbomb" event combining drones, music, and water activities.

Fish Island Water Playground Drone. Provided by Hwacheon County

The Nara Foundation announced on August 8 that it will hold the "2026 Hwacheon Bungeo Island Drone Festa" over two days on August 15 and 16 at the Bungeo Island ground golf course in Hwacheon-eup. This year marks the first time a Drone Festa will be held in Hwacheon.

The event will center around a national competition for drone enthusiasts and will feature drone demonstrations, Liberation Day events, a Drone Waterbomb, and more. It is also linked with the Bungeo Island Water Playground, providing new sights and experiences for summer tourists.

The competitions will be held in three categories: drone VR, drone racing, and unmanned aerial photography.

The drone VR contest will involve participants controlling drones in a virtual reality environment to carry out specific missions. In the drone racing competition, rankings will be determined in "time attack" mode, with participants racing through designated courses and gates while also completing ball drop and filming tasks.

In the unmanned aerial photography competition, participants will submit a 10-second drone video featuring Bungeo Island. Winners will be selected by a combination of expert judging and a live vote by local residents.

Participants can apply until August 14 using the QR code at the bottom of the event poster. Registration for the drone VR contest will also be available onsite on the day of the event.

In addition to the competitions, a range of drone-related attractions will be presented. On August 15, Liberation Day, there will be a commemorative drone event, expert drone flights, and industrial drone demonstrations. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the "Drone Waterbomb," combining drone flying, DJing, and water play, will take place.

2026 Bungeo Island Drone Festa Poster. Provided by Hwacheon County

Notably, the organizers will award the entire total prize pool of 15 million won in Hwacheon Love Gift Certificates and local agricultural specialties. Of the 20,000 won participation fee, 15,000 won will be refunded as Hwacheon Love Gift Certificates. The intention is to connect the consumption of participants and visitors to the local business community, thereby pursuing two goals: attracting more tourists and revitalizing the local economy.

Hwacheon County expects that this event will add advanced leisure content to Bungeo Island, a destination that already draws many visitors every summer, thereby promoting longer-stay tourism.

Kim Sehun, governor of Hwacheon County, said, "We are doing our utmost to prepare for guests so that the 2026 Hwacheon Bungeo Island Drone Festa can establish itself as a new tourism attraction at Bungeo Island, Hwacheon’s signature summer resort."

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