The Milky Way as seen from Taebaek [Photo by Kim Yong-ju, courtesy of Taebaek City]
The Milky Way as seen from Taebaek [Photo by Kim Yong-ju, courtesy of Taebaek City]

Taebaek, widely regarded as the best place in South Korea to view the Milky Way, will host a one-day festival called "To Taebaek, Gaya Haeng" on Aug. 22 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hwangbuja Daughter-in-Law Park and the outdoor performance venue of the Taebaek Culture and Arts Center.

Themed "Walking the Coolest Summer Night in Korea," the festival invites participants to stroll through forest paths and take in Taebaek's nighttime scenery in an interactive format.

The program unfolds in three parts: "Embrace the Light," "Stroll in the Light" and "Become the Light."

Hands-on activities include making natural insect repellent, dyeing fingernails with garden balsam, and a game called "Beat Hwangbuja!" alongside a light-themed stamp rally.

A segment called "Starlight Music Letter" will feature participants' personal stories, highlight Taebaek's key tourism attractions and include an interactive quiz competition.

A nighttime forest walk and performances will take place along the park's trails. The finale will feature a lighting ceremony called "Taebaek's Light" and a starlight string ensemble. Participants will also collaborate on a storytelling event titled "Taebaek Starlight Fairy Tale."

The festival operates on a reservation-only basis. Applications are open through a Naver form linked in the notice section of the Taebaek City official website and will be accepted until capacity is reached.


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