Jangheung County in South Jeolla Province is hosting a summer water festival featuring sports, performances, and water-gun battles [1, 2].
The event provides a cooling refuge for the public during a heat wave while attempting to boost local tourism in the region [1, 2].
Activities at the festival include water sports, and a variety of aquatic competitions. Participants can engage in wrestling and rope-pulling matches held on the water [1, 2]. The festival also incorporates public performances to entertain the crowds [1, 2].
One of the primary attractions is an eel-catching game where visitors attempt to catch fish by hand. Organizers have placed five "golden" eels in the water, and those who catch one receive a prize [1].
"Visitors are blowing away the heat in the cool water and feeling the fun," said YTN reporter Moon Sang-ah [1].
Moon said that the festival in Jangheung, known as the "home of water," combines water-gun fights with leisure sports and performances [1].
The event is scheduled to run through Aug. 2, 2024 [1, 2].
“Visitors are blowing away the heat in the cool water and feeling the fun”
The festival reflects a broader trend in South Korean regional tourism, where local governments use immersive, high-energy events to attract domestic visitors during the peak summer heat. By blending traditional activities like eel-catching with modern trends like water-gun battles, Jangheung County seeks to modernize its image as a 'water city' to ensure economic sustainability through tourism.
