[Provided by Chilgok-gun]
[Provided by Chilgok-gun]

The Chilgok Nakdonggang Peace Festival closed to record-breaking attendance, drawing the largest crowd in its history.

Chilgok-gun said Monday that a combined 450,000 people visited the 13th Chilgok Nakdonggang Peace Festival, the 17th Nakdong River Battle Victory Ceremony and the 205 Chilgok Culture Street Festa, held from Thursday through Sunday at Chilgok Weir Ecological Park, an adjacent auto-camping site and the old downtown area of Waegwan.

Of those, 50,000 attended the 205 Chilgok Culture Street Festa, held along Waegwan Road No. 1 from Friday through Sunday. The influx of festival-goers into the old downtown area also brought new energy to nearby restaurants and shops.

This year's festival focused on commemorating the history of the Nakdong River defense line battles during the Korean War and promoting the values of patriotism and peace.

Particularly notable was a program themed "Boys Becoming Boy Soldiers," which highlighted the stories of young men who went to war at an early age. Through the "Into Waegwan Iron Bridge" exhibition and hands-on history programs, the festival conveyed the pain of war and the importance of peace to children and teenagers.

A victory ceremony for the Nakdong River battles, co-hosted with the Army's Second Operations Command, featured memorial events honoring Korean War veterans and reflecting on the significance of the South Korea-US alliance.

A memorial service for Hill 303, held Friday, was attended by descendants of the late General Paik Sun-yup and the late General Walton H. Walker, who together laid flowers and offered incense.

An exhibition of combat equipment showcasing the growth of South Korea's defense industry also drew considerable attention from visitors.

The venue displayed 50 pieces of equipment across 41 types, including K-2 tanks, K-9 self-propelled howitzers and K-21 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as South Korean and US military hardware.

Hands-on programs — including armored vehicle rides, a Hyungung anti-tank missile virtual shooting experience and a military drone piloting simulator — drew steady streams of families throughout the festival.

The festival's operational approach also earned praise. Chilgok-gun used AI technology to run a smart festival management system that reduced wait times for programs, and operated shuttle buses to improve visitor mobility.

International tourists from the United States, China, Taiwan and Japan also attended, experiencing Chilgok's patriotic history and cultural offerings.

Cultural performances featured Seodo Band, Ha Dong-kyun, Baek Ji-young and 10CM. The festival closed with the Nakdong River Patriotic Peace Concert, featuring a local orchestra and choir, following earlier events including a children's peace song competition, a patriotic road parade and a world peace prayer concert.

"It is deeply meaningful that a record number of visitors joined us to remember the pain of war and express gratitude for the sacrifices of those who fought," Chilgok-gun County Chief Kim Jae-wook said. "We will continue to uphold the festival's original spirit of patriotism and peace while developing it into an event that everyone can enjoy and take part in."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com