Incheon 'Yonsu Neunghodae Festival' to Be Held on October 9-10... 2,000-Drone Light Show Planned

The history of Neunghodae in Yonsu, Incheon, where Baekje envoys once set sail on maritime routes some 1,600 years ago, will be revived this autumn as a ‘Voyage of Light.’

Yonsu District in Incheon will hold the 14th Yonsu Neunghodae Cultural Festival on October 9–10 at Yonsuhanmaeum Park and Neunghodae Park and the surrounding areas.

Neunghodae is a harbor that Baekje envoys used to travel to and from China during the Baekje era, and it has been designated Monument No. 8 of Incheon City. In order to highlight the historical significance of Neunghodae, Yonsu District hosts this festival annually.

This year, under the theme ‘Neunghodae, Voyage of Light,’ the festival will take the form of a global participatory event, unlike previous years.

Yeonsu Neunghadae Cultural Festival. Provided by Yeonsu District, Incheon

On the first day of the festival, the signature event—the Baekje Envoys Parade—will take place. Global diplomatic delegations from sister and friendly cities both in Korea and abroad, as well as multicultural families and international participants living in Yonsu District, are expected to join the parade.

Following the parade, a traditional performing arts play inspired by the historical exchanges between Baekje and the Southern Dynasties of China will be presented, along with the 31st Yonsu District Citizens’ Day commemorative ceremony. Celebration performances by singers RESCENE, Ailee, and Shin Inseon will also take place. In the evening, a drone light show featuring over 2,000 drones will recreate the journey of the Baekje envoys in the night sky.

On the second day, residents can participate in events such as a talent contest to showcase community centers, the Yonsu Kkumiumgil Running Festival, and the District Residents’ Singing Contest. After these, there will be celebratory performances by singers Park Seojin, Kim Feel, and Hong Jinyoung, followed by a grand finale combining traditional percussion with an ‘LED Bit Chumta’ (Light Dance) performance using light-emitting diodes.

Throughout the festival, the venue will offer about 60 interactive booths covering traditional, international, promotional, and welfare sectors, as well as a food court and marketplace featuring local small business owners. The district aims to encourage festivalgoers to naturally visit the nearby Seonhak-dong food alley, thereby invigorating the local economy.

Lee Jaeho, Mayor of Yonsu District, stated, “This year’s Neunghodae Cultural Festival expresses the historical significance of 1,600 years ago through light and advanced technology. We hope it will be a festival where visitors from home and abroad can experience the history and culture of Neunghodae together.”

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