On the 23rd, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced the final selection of 27 cultural tourism festivals for 2026–2027. Among these, 20 festivals were re-designated from the 2024–2025 list, while seven new events—including the Busan International Rock Festival, Nonsan Strawberry Festival, and Sejong Festival—were newly chosen due to their rising popularity among young people and families. The selection process comprehensively considered expert, consumer, and local resident evaluations, as well as negative factors such as price gouging and readiness to accommodate visitors. Events like the Sejong Hangeul Festival offer unique experiences, such as Joseon-era exam reenactments, allowing foreigners and children to learn about Hangeul and King Sejong.
MCST and the Korea Tourism Organization will provide each festival with 40 million KRW in national funding, along with comprehensive support for international promotion, tourism product development, content competitiveness, and AI-driven improvements in visitor readiness. Starting this year, the support system shifts from individual festival aid to a new model that links festivals by theme, geographic proximity, and regional tourism assets, focusing on global festivals. The budget for supporting global festivals has been significantly increased from 6.5 billion KRW in 2023 to 10.4 billion KRW in 2024. In addition to existing global festivals like Incheon Pentaport Music Festival, Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, and Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, three new global festivals and four preliminary global festivals will be selected.
MCST aims to channel worldwide interest in K-Culture into regional global festivals, encouraging both domestic and international tourists to explore beyond the capital area. Global and preliminary global festivals will be chosen through a public contest open until February, covering the 27 selected festivals and 20 honorary festivals for 2026–2027. Kang Dong-jin, Director of Tourism Policy at MCST, emphasized that cultural tourism festivals are comprehensive platforms for experiencing local history and K-Culture. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to expanding support so that more tourists are drawn to regional festivals.
Looking ahead, these cultural tourism festivals are expected to play a pivotal role in spreading K-Culture globally, revitalizing local economies, and enhancing the competitiveness of Korea’s tourism industry. The adoption of advanced technologies like AI for visitor management and the development of unique festival content are anticipated to elevate the quality and appeal of these events. With robust government support and local community collaboration, Korea’s festival industry is poised to gain greater prominence on the global stage. Detailed contest schedules will be announced later.
This expansion of cultural tourism festivals marks a strategic shift from simple event support to a holistic approach that leverages K-Culture for both global outreach and balanced regional development. Integrating advanced technologies such as AI and big data into festival management will transform visitor experiences and enhance international competitiveness. Ultimately, these festivals will serve as platforms for showcasing local cultural assets to the world and act as catalysts for sustainable growth in Korea’s tourism sector.