Goryeong Culture and Tourism Foundation Strengthens Tourism Competitiveness in Its First Year

Daegaya Festival Draws 110,000 Visitors and Generates 3.1 Billion Won in Visitor Spending
Delivers a Boost to the Local Economy

The Goryeong Culture and Tourism Foundation marked its first anniversary by pledging to take a new leap forward in developing local culture and tourism.

2026 Goryeong Daegaya Festival [Photo courtesy of Goryeong County]

Launched on October 27, 2025, the Goryeong Culture and Tourism Foundation, led by CEO Lee Seungik, spent its first year laying the groundwork as a specialized local culture and tourism institution. Its work included developing local festivals and tourism content, making use of national heritage, and running cultural and arts programs.

Its flagship achievement was the 2026 Goryeong Daegaya Festival, held in March. The festival drew more than 110,000 visitors, with visitors from outside the area making up 72.6% of the total.

Total visitor spending was estimated at about 3.1 billion won, and the festival received a satisfaction score of 4.24 out of 5, demonstrating its potential to boost the local economy and enhance the region's tourism competitiveness.

The foundation developed tourism products featuring the Jisan-dong Tumuli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and organized programs including the National Heritage Night Tour, bus tours, and eco-friendly camping.

It also worked to expand residents' access to culture through touring arts programs and historical and cultural performances, while promoting Goryeong's historical significance.

In addition, the foundation expanded agreements with related organizations and established a stable operating framework by improving its management system and internal regulations.

In June 2026, it was designated a public interest corporation, strengthening its foundation for growing alongside the local community.

Going forward, the foundation plans to set the Daegaya Festival apart with distinctive content and expand longer-stay tourism connecting the World Heritage Site with traditional markets and local agricultural specialties, creating a culture and tourism ecosystem linked to the local economy.

“By developing distinctive content unique to Goryeong based on Daegaya's history and World Heritage, we will make the county a culture and tourism city that residents can experience firsthand and visitors will want to return to,” said CEO Lee Seungik.

Building on the achievements of its festivals and tourism projects in its first year, the foundation's next challenge is to connect Goryeong's historical and cultural resources with longer-stay tourism and increased local spending.

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