12th evening in Sachang-ri, a parking lot at the Sane Cultural Center in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province. Purple lights illuminated the soldiers' uniforms as they cheered and clapped along to the singer's performance. The venue, which had been empty earlier, was now filled with the sounds of music and excitement.
A 'Victory Night Concert' is scheduled for the same stage on the 13th at 6:30 PM, featuring performances by Cyber Burger, Norazo, and VIVIZ. A pre-show by the Yang Tae-hwan Band will begin at 6 PM. Hwacheon County Mayor Kim Se-hoon is also expected to attend the event.
On the first day, military families brought their children to the festival. A local resident mentioned that they visited the festival with a neighboring military family, and the children enjoyed the food and music among the soldiers.
The '2026 15th Division Victory Festival,' organized by Hwacheon County and the Army's 15th Infantry Division, moved from Damok-ri to Sachang-ri this year. A non-commissioned officer from the 15th Division expressed that the event's location in Sachang-ri allowed students to attend and families to gather in the evenings. He added, "I hope there will be more opportunities for the military and the community to come together like this."
Following the 2022 defense reform, the 15th Division headquarters relocated to the former site of the 27th Division headquarters in Sane-myeon. This has fostered continued civil-military exchanges through local festivals. The Hwacheon Tomato Festival also featured the 'Victory Unit Soldiers' Night' again this year.
Sane-myeon Mayor Byeon Byeong-hee explained that the event was created to find ways to support the community, bringing together residents, soldiers, and administration. He noted that with the cooperation of the division, many soldiers participated, making the event even more vibrant.
Im Jae-min, head of Hwacheon County's civil-military team, stated that the first day included a concert and talent show for soldiers, while the second day will feature a soldier fitness competition and a night market. He remarked, "We are conducting programs over two days that allow us to coexist with local residents."
The event on the 13th will start at noon. A soldier fitness competition, the 'Iron Fit Championship,' is scheduled for 2 PM. Attendees can experience virtual reality archery and robot games. Collecting three stamps will earn a 5,000 won coupon for use at the event. The 'Starlight Music Screen' will run from 8 PM to 9 PM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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