On a sunny Children's Day in Uiwang, the '2026 Children's Rail Festival' drew roughly 40,000 visitors from across the country and wrapped up to enthusiastic applause.
City officials said the festival, held at Wangsong Lake Park and the Railway Museum on May 5, buzzed with families all day and maintained a lively, upbeat atmosphere.
Clear skies made it an ideal day for outdoor fun, and visitors reported high satisfaction with the experience.
This year’s event amped up rail-focused programming and earned strong interest. Interactive booths from the Korea Railroad Research Institute and Hyundai Rotem, plus programs coordinated with the Railway Museum and partner organizations, were busy throughout the day.
The 'Rail Planet' booth — where kids built and operated model trains — proved especially popular, with long lines of eager participants.
Immersive attractions like virtual reality, augmented reality, and simulators also captivated children and boosted on-site engagement.
KORAIL Retail’s rail-goods shop, 'Korea Train Mates,' showcased a variety of train-themed items, offering families another fun draw.
Daytime interactive events — including the 'Dice OX Rail Game,' a family fitness challenge, and 'Find the Treasure' — consistently drew long lines and enthusiastic participation.
In the afternoon, performances on the main stage elevated the festival vibe. The municipal boys' and girls' choir opened the program, followed by popular acts such as Norazo, DinDin, Kyungseo, Ryu Ji-gwang, and Song Ja-young. The fireworks finale closed the event to cheers and applause.
The city operated shuttle buses and opened temporary parking lots; those traffic measures worked smoothly, allowing the festival to proceed without major congestion despite the large turnout.
Free access to the Bird Ecology Science Center and complimentary admission to the Railway Museum further increased satisfaction among family visitors.
“The great turnout from residents and tourists helped make the festival feel richer,” a city official said. “We plan to develop the Children's Rail Festival into a nationally recognized family event.”
With a wide range of rail-related experiences and programs, the festival gave children and families memorable moments and helped position the city’s event as a national family festival.
Uiwang = Seung-sik Lee, reporter thankslee57@viva100.com
