The Muan County in the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City will host the 6th Muan YD Festival from November 20 to 22 at Namak Central Park and Kim Dae-jung Plaza.
This year's festival, themed 'PLAY YD! Now is Our Stage!', aims to be an interactive cultural event where young people can showcase their talents and engage with local residents and visitors.
A key feature of this year's festival is the expansion of youth and university participation, including the introduction of a nationwide college song contest.
The festival will kick off on November 20 with a pre-show performance by last year's dance competition winners, followed by an opening ceremony and celebratory performances. The atmosphere will be further elevated by a concert featuring artists Heize, Jung Dong-ha, and Jung Jae-wook.
On November 21, a street parade will take place with over 1,000 participants, including youth, college students, and local residents. Following the parade, hip-hop performances by Woo Won-jae and Giriboy, as well as an EDM party by Bad Kids, will be held.
The final day, November 22, will feature the inaugural nationwide college song contest, where college students will compete to showcase their musical talents. This will be followed by performances from 10CM, g0nny, and N-Bun-ui-il, concluding the festival.
Opportunities for direct youth participation have significantly increased. The county has expanded the number of youth and university participation booths from 11 last year to 21 this year, providing a space for young people to showcase their activities and interact with visitors.
Universities and youth organizations from across the country, including Dongseo University, Korea University of Media Arts, Mokpo University, and Chodang University, will participate, and a 'Youth Meeting Day' will be organized to facilitate exchanges among young people.
Experience programs utilizing university majors will also attract attention. Chodang University will offer an aviation simulator, perfume-making, and beauty and healthcare experiences, while Mokpo Catholic University will conduct addiction prevention education using virtual reality (VR).
The Namak Complex Community Center will host a comedy talk show featuring comedians Kim Kyung-ah, Kim Mi-ryeo, and Jo Seung-hee. A large-scale human claw machine experience called 'Dream Catcher' will also be available for students who have completed their college entrance exams.
Additionally, various experience programs such as a 3x3 street basketball tournament, YD Dream Pass, Y2K Youth Zone, Youth PLAY Challenge, and AI personal color diagnosis will be offered.
Programs linked to the local economy will also be implemented. Through a sales booth for Muan's agricultural products and a joint promotional hall for Namak shopping centers, the festival aims to promote local agricultural products and encourage visitors to utilize local businesses.
Kim San, the head of Muan County, stated, "This year's YD Festival is a celebration created together by young people from inside and outside the region who are directly involved in planning and operation. I hope it becomes a place for youth to share their dreams and passions, and I encourage many to visit the festival and enjoy it together."
Meanwhile, Muan County aims to enhance cultural and artistic activities among youth and promote exchanges between universities through this festival, while also increasing the economic impact on the local community.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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