31st Dongnae Eupseong History Festival

#Overview

The Dongnae Eupseong History Festival is Dongnae-gu's flagship annual event, dating back to the first Chungnyeolje in 1995. This year, the 31st edition ran from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26, 2025 around the North Gate of Dongnae Eupseong, the Dongnae Culture Center, and the Oncheoncheon stream. The theme was "Dongnae Castle People — Connecting History and the Future," with 51 programs including the Dongnae Magistrate's Procession, a live-action musical reenactment of the Battle of Dongnae, and the Dongnae Three-Strand Tug-of-War. Admission was free.

It is the same festival as always, but it might be the last chance to enjoy it from where I'm currently posted — so I decided to drop by half as a cheerleader, half as a visitor.

#Day 1 (Fri, Oct 24)

6 PM: off work.

It was raining, so walking the fortress grounds seemed tough. I went over to Myeongnyun 1st Street, greeted the officers and seniors from the Employment & Economy Division, had a quick drink, and headed home.

There was a set deal — 10,000 KRW for two meal vouchers, one purchase per person. Since a single dish usually costs about 10,000 KRW, the set was effectively half price.

#Day 2 (Sat, Oct 25)

(No notes taken.)

#Day 3 (Sun, Oct 26)

(No notes taken.)

#Conclusion

No real regrets — except a small pang when the crowd chanted for an encore at the singing contest.

---