Experience History: Join the 2026 Danjong Cultural Festival in Yeongwol with Exciting Events and Activities

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Director Jang Hang-jun to Give Special Lecture… Film and Festival Team Up

Rich Lineup of Key Events Including Reenactment of Danjong’s State Funeral

Tourist Train Service… Expanded Cheongnyeongpo Experiences

The excitement hasn’t faded. The box-office buzz around the film \"The Man Who Lives With the King\" is now spilling into a local festival. Yeongwol, in Gangwon Province—the film’s setting—will host the 59th Danjong Cultural Festival from April 24–26. Director Jang Hang-jun is scheduled to appear in person, and actor Park Ji-hoon has lent his support through promotional videos, amplifying public interest.

Danjong memorial ritual at the Yeongwol Danjong Cultural Festival, Gangwon / Photo: Yeongwol Culture & Tourism Foundation

Yeongwol County in Gangwon announced it will hold the 59th Danjong Cultural Festival from April 24–26 at the Donggang riverside, Jangneung, and the Cheongnyeongpo area. The festival has been a regional tradition since 1967. This year’s theme is \"The King’s Return, Prelude to Hope.\"

This year’s standout feature is a collaboration with the film \"The Man Who Lives With the King.\" On the festival’s opening day, April 24, director Jang Hang-jun will give a special lecture at the Yeongwol Culture & Arts Center as part of the 256th Yeongwol Academy. Titled \"The Man Who Stirred Yeongwol’s Spring: Director Jang Hang-jun on Film,\" the talk starts at 3 p.m. in the performance hall on the center’s third floor. Admission tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 2 p.m. that day.

Parade at the Yeongwol Danjong Cultural Festival / Photo: Yeongwol Culture & Tourism Foundation

The festival will feature interactive experiences for film fans. A highlight is the \"Yeongwol: Living With the King\" stamp mission, which follows the footsteps of loyalist Eom Heung-do. It’s designed to turn the movie’s atmosphere into an on-the-ground adventure.

The schedule is packed. On April 24, the Jeongsun Queen pageant kicks things off, followed by an opening concert with singers Lee Chan-won and Kang Moon-kyung and a drone light show. On April 25, the festival’s centerpiece — the reenactment of Danjong’s state funeral — will be staged. Organizers recreated the solemn procession based on historical research to honor Danjong, who never received a state funeral during the Joseon dynasty. On the final day, April 26, hundreds of residents will join a giant kudzu-rope tug-of-war, and the festival will close with a finale concert.

The festival also highlights immersive history programming. Guided walks will connect Danjong’s exile site, Cheongnyeongpo, with the World Heritage royal tomb Jangneung. Visitors can participate in a traditional wedding reenactment and observe Danjong memorial rites. Families should find this a vivid living-history experience. The lineup also includes a national cooking contest, a gourmet fair, and local food booths that showcase Yeongwol’s flavors and culture.

Fireworks at the Yeongwol Danjong Cultural Festival / Photo: Yeongwol Culture & Tourism Foundation

To coincide with the festival and the Children’s Day holiday, Yeongwol County will run a temporary tourist train for 16 days, from April 20 through May 5. The train will circle the Dongseogang Garden and Cheongnyeongpo Garden, making it easy to explore the wide Cheongnyeongpo area. At this time of year, the area is at its best—spring blooms and pine forests create striking scenery. Tickets are available at the Cheongnyeongpo ticket booth and cost 1,000 KRW (approximately $0.75 USD) per person regardless of age.

“We hope the tourist train we prepared for the Danjong Cultural Festival gives visitors happy memories,” said Ahn Baek-woon, director of Yeongwol County’s Culture & Tourism Division. “We want visitors to enjoy Cheongnyeongpo’s nature and Danjong’s history up close.”

Moon Seoyeon, Travel+ reporter