"This year, the guests at the Haenam Mi-nam Festival are the tourists."
The Haenam County government is making significant changes for the upcoming '2026 Haenam Mi-nam (味南) Festival,' which opens on October 30. The festival will eliminate formal ceremonies, guest introductions, and designated seating, aiming to make residents and visitors the main focus.
The festival will take place from October 30 to November 1 at Duryunsan Provincial Park in Samsan-myeon, under the theme 'Dyeing in the Flavors of Haenam.'
One of the most notable changes this year is the opening ceremony. The traditional town parade and formal ceremonies will be removed, and the protocol will be minimized to focus on the festival's core elements: food and performances.
There will be no separate seating for dignitaries. Instead of designated seats for attendees, the festival will adopt an open seating arrangement where residents and tourists can sit together and enjoy the performances.
The opening event will feature a performance centered around this year's agricultural product, rice, followed immediately by the 'Mi-nam Trot Celebration Show,' without a formal ceremony.
The Haenam County government aims to create a flow of events that allows tourists to enjoy the programs without unnecessary delays.
The festival will focus on Haenam's agricultural and marine specialties and culinary offerings.
An integrated exhibition hall will showcase this year's theme, 'Haenam Rice,' connecting displays, experiences, sales, and online broadcasts. There will also be food and snack areas featuring local businesses and residents.
Large-scale booths for selling agricultural and marine products will allow visitors to taste and purchase Haenam's specialties directly.
Programs for tourist participation, such as a cabbage mixing event and rice cooking experiences, will also be available. The festival will feature performances, including a trot celebration show with popular singers and romantic concerts throughout the event.
Yoon Yong-han, head of the festival team at Haenam County's tourism office, stated, "This year's Haenam Mi-nam Festival will be a true celebration for visitors, minimizing formalities and focusing on the festival's core story. We hope tourists from across the country will comfortably enjoy the flavors and beauty of Haenam."
The Haenam Mi-nam Festival, now in its ongoing years, connects Haenam's agricultural and marine specialties with tourism content. This year's festival will be held from October 30 to November 1 at Duryunsan Provincial Park, emphasizing food and experiential programs centered around Haenam rice while significantly reducing formalities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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