Yongin Special City to host 2026 Joayong Festival

Yongin Special City will host the ‘2026 Korea Joayong Festival’ on October 3–4 at the Yongin Mir Stadium to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its elevation to city status. Under the theme ‘Let’s Enjoy Together! Yongin 30th Anniversary,’ the event will feature 40 characters from 28 domestic and international organizations, including the city’s representative character, Joayong. Highlights include character parades, cosplay, and dance performances, with participation from international exchange partners such as Kumamoto, Japan.

The festival integrates several specialized events, including the 26th Cyber Science Festival, which will showcase humanoid robots and AI-driven elderly care services with support from local entities like Samsung Electronics. Other programs include a lifelong learning fair, a youth festival, and various food-related events such as the Food Festa and Food Industry Expo. The latter will feature the launch of the ‘Yongin Pami Joayong’ agricultural brand and a large-scale bibimbap performance.

To mark the 31st Yongin Citizens' Day, the ceremony will include appearances by notable figures such as pole vaulter Woo Sang-hyeok and football technical director Lee Dong-gook. The city plans to operate shuttle buses between City Hall and the stadium to manage traffic and facilitate visitor movement.