The 68th Miryang Arirang Festival, which ran May 7–10, wrapped up this week.
Staged across Yeongnamru, the Miryang riverside and the Namcheon riverside road, the festival featured 38 programs that paired Korea’s time-honored traditions with fresh, modern flair — drawing enthusiastic crowds of locals and visitors.
Miryang City hosted the event, with the Miryang Culture and Tourism Foundation acting as organizer. The festival was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, South Gyeongsang Province, the Miryang City Council, the Miryang Cultural Center and the Miryang chapter of the Korea Federation of Arts and Culture.
Under the slogan Arirang, Beyond the Era, Into the Future, the festival highlighted Miryang’s distinct appeal with performances, hands-on experiences, exhibitions, competitions and nighttime programs that blended tradition and contemporary creativity.
Standout programming included the Miryang River Odyssey segment "Samyeong, To the World," which fused drone displays, special effects and large-scale performances against the natural backdrop of Yeongnamru and the Miryang River — a combination that truly mesmerized audiences.
That production has quickly become a signature nighttime draw for Miryang.
Other highlights — from the Arirang theme exhibit and the UNESCO Diaspora program to the National Unity Arirang, the Miryang Arirang competition and street parades — helped spotlight the cultural value and global relevance of Miryang Arirang.
This year’s festival also marked a meaningful move toward stay-over tourism.
Visitors spent afternoons at exhibits, hands-on workshops and street events, then stayed into the evening for major performances and illuminated displays — a rhythm that noticeably extended how long people stayed in town.
That longer dwell time translated into a tangible boost for the local economy.
Riverside food zones and food trucks, downtown shops and markets selling local agricultural specialties drew steady crowds throughout the festival, injecting energy into businesses across the city.
Demand for accommodations rose as well, underscoring Miryang’s growing appeal as a place people want to linger.
A city official said, "The 68th Miryang Arirang Festival was a meaningful event that showcased the value of traditional culture while demonstrating Miryang's competitiveness as a stay-over tourism destination. We will continue to build on Miryang Arirang to boost the local economy and develop it into a flagship cultural tourism festival for South Korea."
Perhaps most importantly, the festival was truly a community effort. Local artists, youth groups, volunteers, citizen performers and civic organizations all took part in producing and performing, stepping up as the festival’s owners and bringing it to life.
Gyeongnam - Reporter Ahn Byung-gon anbk5566@viva100.com
