2026 Seongju Chamoe & Life Culture Festival: What to Expect from This Unique Event?
Daniel Kim Views
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North Gyeongsang’s (Gyeongbuk) 2026 Seongju Korean Melon & Life Culture Festival will take place May 14–17 across Seongju’s Seongbak Forest area.
The festival layout centers on the Life Theme Plaza, which features a Life Exhibition Hall and a chamoe (Korean melon) healing park. A cinematic archive gallery titled Seongju: Living with Kings lets visitors watch the town’s history play out like a movie.
The public parking lot at Seongbak Forest becomes the Chamoe Lounge, a playful, multi-generational space where people of all ages can both learn about and enjoy everything related to the chamoe.
Across the Icheon River, Seed Island is a family-focused edutainment zone themed on chamoe and life, with attractions such as the Life Exploration Lab and the Seed Stadium.
The Welcome Terrace greets guests and adds to the festival buzz, while the Life Walk—a peaceful forest trail—offers restorative moments like the 100 Steps of Life’s Birth, where visitors stroll to prenatal music and other soothing sounds.
On Day 1, a procession reenacting Joseon royal birth rites associated with Prince Sejong will parade through Seongju’s streets, creating a striking cultural spectacle. The day continues with the community event Seongju People Harmony Day.
Day 2 heats up with a Life Declaration ceremony, and that evening’s opening show features performances by Baek Ji-young, Dynamic Duo, Park Seo-jin and more.
Day 3 invites visitors to explore the town through Seongju Marble, a mission-style adventure, and enjoy the Light & Love of Life Concert with diverse performances. After dark, a falling-flower fireworks display will light up the Icheon riverbank at Seongbak Forest.
The festival’s final day spotlights the Chamoe Song Contest, where talent and passion take center stage, followed by the traditional Byeolmoe Tug-of-War. A closing ceremony and fireworks will bring the celebration to an end.
The chair of the Seongju County Festival Committee said, “This year we worked harder than ever to create a festival where every generation can enjoy Seongju’s pride—the chamoe—and celebrate the precious culture of life.”
Seongju — Reporter Song Ji-na sjna1114@viva100.com
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