At a glance
| Dates | Expected May/Jun 2027A Friday-to-Sunday weekend in May or June 2027. The festival ran on the second weekend of May in 2023–2025 (12–14 May 2023, 10–12 May 2024, 9–11 May 2025) and moved to 12–14 June in 2026; 2027 dates not announced as of 19 Oct 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: A Friday-to-Sunday weekend in May or June 2027. The festival ran on the second weekend of May in 2023–2025 (12–14 May 2023, 10–12 May 2024, 9–11 May 2025) and moved to 12–14 June in 2026; 2027 dates not announced as of 19 Oct 2026. |
| Weather | May average 22/15 °C (72/58 °F), 156 mm of rain June average 25/18 °C (76/65 °F), 188 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Busan station. |
| Admission | Free entry; the bare-handed live-fish catching costs ₩10,000 (2025 and 2026) and a few other hands-on programmes may charge.Festival admission: Free · Bare-handed live-fish catching: ₩10,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Gwangalli Beach and Suyeong Historic Park부산광역시 수영구 광안해변로 219 (광안동) |
| Nearest station | Gwangan Station (광안역), Busan Metro Line 2, Exit 3 or 5About 10 minutes on foot to the beach |
| From Seoul | about 2 h 40 min · KTX + SubwayLeave from Seoul Station · One-way fare from ₩54,400Full route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Suyeong-gu Festival Committee (host: Suyeong-gu Office, Busan)수영구축제위원회 (주최: 부산광역시 수영구) |
| Usual timing | A Friday-to-Sunday weekend in May or June. It ran on the second weekend of May from 2023 to 2025 (12–14 May 2023, 10–12 May 2024, 9–11 May 2025) and moved to 12–14 June in 2026. In 2008 it was held in April (11–13 April). Browse May / June festivals. |
| First held | 2001 |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 27 sources · See sources |
What it is like
In the Joseon period Suyeong, the district behind Gwangalli Beach, was the base of the Gyeongsang Left Naval Command, and its sailors fished alongside local fishermen in a shared system called eobang. Their way of hauling nets and singing at work survives as Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori, a national intangible heritage item (No. 62), and this festival, held since 2001, is built around that story. Suyeong-gu turns about a kilometre of the beach into an Eobang Folk Village with naval barracks and old-style houses, open 10:00–22:00, with a guard-changing ceremony, folk games, an open-air madanggeuk play, stamp tours and even a 'traditional EDM party'. Suyeong Historic Park inland is the second festival site.
The fixed points repeat each year. On the opening Friday evening the main stage follows the ceremony with Musical Eobang, an original show about the festival's origins, which then plays twice on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday at 16:00 the Gyeongsang Jwasusa parade, the naval commander's procession with a military band and honour guard, marches from Suyeong-gu Office along the beach road to the Millak raw-fish centre. On Friday and Saturday at 21:00 lit fishing boats from Millak fishing village cross the bay in Jindueohwa, a re-creation of night torch fishing. At the weekend visitors pay to catch live fish bare-handed in a large tank and have it cleaned and served at the 'Eobang Suragan' kitchen; net-pulling for everyone, a sashimi auction, a children's naval training ground and food tents fill the rest of the sand. In 2026 the regular Gwangalli drone show also flew an Eobang-themed set at 20:00 on both the Friday and the Saturday.
The timing has moved. In 2008 it was held in April, when it had absorbed the Namcheon-dong cherry blossom festival; 2023 to 2025 were held on the second weekend of May; and the 2026 edition moved to mid-June. No reason was published on the pages we could open, so treat May and June as equally likely for 2027 until Suyeong-gu announces the dates.
The honest caveats: programmes are run in Korean; the 2025 opening night was rained off; evenings by the sea are cool in May; and the Saturday parade and drone show bring the heaviest crowds, so come by subway.
Highlights
- Gyeongsang Jwasusa parade: the Joseon naval commander's procession with a military band and honour guard, Saturday 16:00 from Suyeong-gu Office along the beach road to the Millak raw-fish centre
- Jindueohwa: lit fishing boats from Millak fishing village cross the bay at 21:00 on Friday and Saturday
- Musical Eobang, an original stage show about the festival's origin, after Friday's opening ceremony (20:10) and twice on Saturday and Sunday
- Eobang Folk Village on the sand, 10:00–22:00 daily, with a guard-changing ceremony, folk games, a madanggeuk play and a stamp tour
- Bare-handed live-fish catching (₩10,000 in 2025 and 2026) four times a day at the weekend, with free cleaning at the Eobang Suragan kitchen
- In 2026 the Gwangalli drone show, normally a Saturday event, also flew on the festival Friday, with an Eobang Festa theme at 20:00 on 12 and 13 June
Who it suits. Best for families with children (fish catching, net pulling and a children's naval training ground), travellers curious about Joseon naval and fishing-village life, and anyone in Busan that weekend who wants a free day on Gwangalli Beach; less suited to visitors who need English-language programmes or who dislike Saturday crowds.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Seoul Station to Busan Station (about 2 h 30 m, ₩54,400), then Busan Metro Line 1 to Seomyeon and Line 2 east to Gwangan Station; leave by Exit 3 or 5 and walk about 10 minutes down to the beach.
From Busan
Metro Line 2 to Gwangan Station, Exit 3 or 5 (about 10 minutes on foot), or Geumnyeonsan Station, Exit 3 (about 15 minutes); or city buses 38, 42, 49, 62, 83, 83-1 or 108 to the Gwangalli Beach stop. From Haeundae, take Line 2 west to Gwangan.
From Incheon Airport
Domestic flight to Gimhae Airport, then the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail to Sasang and Metro Line 2 east to Gwangan; or AREX to Seoul Station and KTX to Busan.
Last leg from Gwangan Station
Busan Metro Line 2, Exit 3 or 5. About 10 minutes on foot to the beach
Getting home
The evening programmes run late: the musical starts at 20:10 on Friday and Saturday, the Jindueohwa boats sail at 21:00 and the folk village closes at 22:00. Back to Seoul: the KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station takes about 2 h 30 m, and Gwangalli to Busan Station takes Line 2 to Seomyeon and then Line 1, so a same-day return to Seoul means leaving before the night programmes; to see the boats, stay the night. Once the 2027 dates are known, check the last train in the Korail app (코레일+ / Korail+) or at the station.
Parking
No festival parking information was found. Public car parks at Gwangalli Beach, Millak Waterside Park and Millak Beach Park fill quickly at weekends (a 2025 blog put the beach car park at about ₩2,000 an hour), and the Saturday parade uses the beach road, so the subway is the easier choice.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Festival admission | Free | |
| Bare-handed live-fish catching | ₩10,000 | Sat–Sun at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00; cleaning at the Eobang Suragan is free |
- Booking
- No booking for the festival. How to sign up for the fish catching (on site or in advance) was not stated in the sources opened.
- English on site
- Busan City posts an English 'must-see events' guide with times before each edition (2024–2026), and NOL World has an English listing; the programmes appear to be run in Korean, and no on-site interpretation is documented.
- Crowds
- Busiest on Saturday, when the 16:00 parade, the evening musical, the 20:00 drone show and the 21:00 torch boats all fall on one day; no official visitor count was found.
- Best time to go
- Saturday afternoon into the evening: the 16:00 parade, then the musical (20:10), the drone show (20:00 on the Friday and Saturday in 2026) and Jindueohwa at 21:00. Fish catching runs at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
- What to bring
- A jacket for the evening sea breeze (Busan City's advice in May 2024), clothes and shoes that can get wet if you join the fish catching, and a transit card for the metro.
- Rain
- Rain can cancel programmes: on 9 May 2025 the opening ceremony and hands-on programmes were called off for rain, while the remaining two days went ahead. Drone shows are cancelled or delayed for bad weather, with notice the day before or on the day.
- Toilets
- Public toilets along Gwangalli Beach.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | A Friday-to-Sunday weekend in May or June 2027. The festival ran on the second weekend of May in 2023–2025 (12–14 May 2023, 10–12 May 2024, 9–11 May 2025) and moved to 12–14 June in 2026; 2027 dates not announced as of 19 Oct 2026. | expected | No 2027 announcement found as of 19 October 2026. Watch Busan City's English events calendar and Suyeong-gu's festival page. |
| 2026 | 12–14 Jun 2026 | ended | Gwangalli Beach (main stage, folk stage and folk village) and the Suyeong Historic Park area. |
| 2025 | 9–11 May 2025 | ended | Rain on the first day cancelled the opening ceremony and experience programmes; 10–11 May went ahead as planned. |
| 2024 | 10–12 May 2024 | ended | 22nd edition. Busan City advised a jacket against the cold sea breeze in the evening. |
Nearby
- Gwangalli M Drone Light Show (광안리 M 드론 라이트쇼) — Same beach. Free drone show over the same beach every Saturday night; during the 2026 festival it also flew an Eobang Festa theme on the Friday.
- Busan Fireworks Festival (부산불꽃축제) — Same beach. Busan's one-night fireworks show over Gwangalli Beach and the Gwangan Bridge, on Saturday 7 November 2026.
- Gwangan Bridge (광안대교). The suspension bridge across the bay, lit at night and the backdrop to the parade, the torch boats and the drone show.
- Millak Waterside Park (민락수변공원). Waterfront park at the north end of the beach, near the Millak raw-fish centre where the parade ends and the fishing village the Jindueohwa boats sail from.
- Suyeong Historic Park (수영사적공원). Park inland in Suyeong, linked to the Joseon naval command, and the festival's second site.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Gwangalli Eobang Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. It was held 12–14 May 2023, 10–12 May 2024 and 9–11 May 2025, then moved to 12–14 June in 2026, so expect a Friday-to-Sunday weekend in May or June 2027.
Is the Gwangalli Eobang Festival free?
Yes. Entry is free (KTO). The bare-handed live-fish catching cost ₩10,000 in 2025 and 2026, and cleaning the fish at the Eobang Suragan kitchen is free.
What does 'eobang' mean?
Eobang was the Joseon-era arrangement in Suyeong under which sailors of the Gyeongsang Left Naval Command and local fishermen fished together. Their net-hauling work and songs survive as Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori, national intangible heritage No. 62, which the festival is named after.
What time are the parade and the torch-lit boats?
In 2026 the Gyeongsang Jwasusa parade started at 16:00 on Saturday 13 June from Suyeong-gu Office along the beach road, and the Jindueohwa fishing boats crossed the bay at 21:00 on Friday and Saturday. The same pattern was used in 2024 and 2025.
How do I get to the Gwangalli Eobang Festival?
Take Busan Metro Line 2 to Gwangan Station, Exit 3 or 5, and walk about 10 minutes to the beach. From Seoul, take the KTX to Busan Station (about 2 h 30 m, ₩54,400), then Line 1 to Seomyeon and Line 2 to Gwangan.
Can I see the Gwangalli drone show during the festival?
In 2026, yes: the free drone show flew an Eobang Festa theme at 20:00 on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 June, with a second show at 22:00. The drone show is normally on Saturdays only.
Why did the festival move from May to June?
Suyeong-gu did not give a reason on the pages we could open. May had been the pattern from 2023 to 2025 (and April in 2008), so check the official announcement before planning a 2027 trip.
What is the weather like during Gwangalli Eobang Festival?
May in Busan: average high 22 °C (72 °F), low 15 °C (58 °F), 156 mm of rain (Busan station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). June in Busan: average high 25 °C (76 °F), low 18 °C (65 °F), 188 mm of rain (Busan station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
19 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- Busan City (English) events: 2026 Gwangalli Eobang (Fishing Village) Festivalmunicipal — 2026 dates 12 (Fri)–14 (Sun) June; Gwangalli Beach and Suyeong Historical Park; host Suyeong-gu Office, organizer Suyeong-gu Festival Committee, sponsors MCST and Busan City; tel (051)610-4062; Gwangan Station (Line 2) Exit 3 or 5, about 10 minutes' walk to the beach
- Busan City (English): Must-see Events of 2026 Gwangalli Eobang Festival (10 Jun 2026)municipal — Musical Eobang 12 Jun 20:10 after the opening ceremony, 13 Jun 15:00 and 20:10, 14 Jun 15:00 and 19:00; Gyeongsang Jwasusa Parade 13 Jun 16:00, Suyeong-gu Office → 7-Eleven → Gwangalli Beach coastal road → Millak Hoe Center; Jindueohwa 12–13 Jun 21:00; Eobang Folk Village 12–14 Jun 10:00–22:00; bare-handed fish catching 13–14 Jun 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, ₩10,000, cleaning free
- KTO festival listing (ktriptips mirror, Korean): 광안리어방축제kto — 2026 dates 12–14 Jun; hours 10:00–22:00; free; venue 광안리해변 및 수영사적공원 일원; address 광안해변로 219; coordinates 35.1537727886, 129.1185199367; tel 051-610-4212; host Suyeong-gu, organizer Suyeong-gu Festival Committee; eobang history and 좌수영어방놀이; 2026 programme list
- Busan City (Simplified Chinese) events: 第24届广安里渔坊节municipal — 24th edition, 12–14 June 2026; Simplified Chinese name 广安里渔坊节; host Suyeong-gu; tel (051) 610-4062
- Busan City (Japanese) events: 第24回広安里漁坊(オベン)祭りmunicipal — 24th edition, 12–14 June 2026; Japanese name 広安里漁坊(オベン)祭り; venue 広安里海水浴場 and 水営史跡公園
- Busan City (Traditional Chinese) events: 第22屆廣安里漁坊節municipal — 22nd edition, 10–12 May 2024; Traditional Chinese name 廣安里漁坊節
- Busan City (English) events: 2024 Gwangalli Fishing Village Festivalmunicipal — 2024 dates 10–12 May (Fri–Sun); held since 2001; government-designated festival for 2020–2025; host Suyeong-gu Office, Suyeong-gu Festival Committee, sponsors MCST and Busan City; tel (051)610-4062
- Busan City (English): Must-see Events of 2024 Gwangalli Fishing Village Festival (9 May 2024)municipal — Musical 10 May 20:10, 11 May 15:00 and 20:10, 12 May 15:00 and 19:00; parade 11 May 16:00 with military band and honour guard; Jindueohwa 10–11 May 21:00; folk village 10:00–22:00; fish catching 11–12 May 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, ₩5,000; jacket advice for the sea breeze
- Busan City (English) events: 2025 Gwangalli Fishing Village Festivalmunicipal — 2025 dates 9–11 May (Fri–Sun); Gwangalli Beach and Suyeong Historical Park; host Suyeong-gu Office; tel (051)610-4062
- Busan City (English): Must-see Events of 2025 Gwangalli Fishing Village Festival (8 May 2025)municipal — Opening ceremony and experience programmes on 9 May 2025 cancelled for rain, 10–11 May as planned; musical 9 May 20:10, 10 May 15:00 and 20:10, 11 May 15:00 and 19:00; parade 10 May 16:00; Jindueohwa 9–10 May 21:00; folk village 10:00–22:00; fish catching 10–11 May 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, ₩10,000
- Busan City (English) events: 2023 Gwangalli Fishing Village Festivalmunicipal — 2023 dates 12–14 May (Fri–Sun); 'Gwangalli Eobang Festival since 2001'
- Busan City (English): Gwangalli M Drone Light Show — June schedule (5 Jun 2026)municipal — Fri 12 and Sat 13 June 2026: 20:00 show themed Gwangalli Eobang Festa, 22:00 show BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN; free; regular June shows on Saturdays (6, 20, 27 June); weather cancellations announced the day before or on the day
- Reportera: 현대식 해변에 등장한 조선시대 어촌 (29 May 2026)news — 2026 dates 12–14 June; free admission; programmes incl. 어방그물끌기 한마당, 어린이수군체력단련장, sashimi auction, 빛의바다어방, sunflower field, 어방포차/싱싱활어장터/어방주막; 좌수영어방놀이 National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 62; tel 051-610-4212
- Haps Magazine via Stars and Stripes Korea: Gwangalli Fishing Village Festival (10 Jun 2026)news — About 1 km of beach turned into a fishing village with naval barracks; net pulling, raw-fish auction, children's naval SUP and Golden Bell quiz; special drone performance Friday and Saturday nights; LED screens for live broadcast and emergency messages; Gwangan Station Exit 3 or 5
- NOL World: Gwangalli Eobang Festival 2026other — English listing: 12–14 June 2026; 11-minute walk from Gwangan Station Exit 5 (Line 2); Instagram eobang_festival
- 축제.com: 광안리어방축제other — 2026 dates and hours 10:00–22:00; free entry, some hands-on programmes paid; 2025 programme list (망궐례, 내왕소리 experience, beachcombing, 수영성별빛쉼터); tel 051-610-4062
- Kyunghyang Shinmun: 부산 광안리 '관광 명성' 되찾는다 (27 Mar 2008)news — 8th edition 11–13 April 2008; merged the Millak live-fish, Gwangalli beach and Namcheon cherry blossom festivals; Ministry-designated festival 2005–2008; built around 좌수영어방놀이
- KNN: 바다·역사·축제가 만나는 곳…수영구, 30년을 문화로 채웠다 (3 Apr 2025)news — Festival features: bare-handed fish catching, Gyeongsang Jwasusa parade, Jindueohwa, Musical Eobang, sari-sori re-enactment; link to the Joseon-era Gyeongsang Left Naval Command
- Financial News: 대선주조, 광안리어방축제 성공 개최 지원사격 (9 May 2025)news — 2025 festival 9–11 May at Gwangalli Beach and Suyeong Historic Park; organizer Suyeong-gu Festival Committee
- Official location guide (English)official — Subway lines/exits and bus routes for Gwangalli, Igidae, Dongbaekseom; no-parking notice
- dnublog: 광안리 드론쇼 일정, 관람 포인트, 교통편 (7 Sep 2025)blog — Best views from the centre of the beach, beachfront cafés and Millak Waterside Park; arrive at least an hour early; Gwangan Station about 10 minutes' walk, Geumnyeonsan Station Exit 3 about 15 minutes; beach car park about ₩2,000 an hour
- mom-mom.net: 매주 토요일밤 광안리 하늘을 수놓는 드론의 불빛 (updated 18 Apr 2025)blog — Drones fly from the middle of the beach, viewable anywhere on it; car parks at Gwangalli Beach, Millak Waterside Park and Millak Beach Park; toilets along the beach; Suyeong-gu Instagram link; schedule may change around big events such as the fireworks festival
- Busan → Seoul Station train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Same last trains on Fri 16, Sat 17 and Sun 18 Oct: 22:00 KTX 82 (arr 00:27) and 22:10 KTX 84 (arr 00:42); matches korail.com for 16 Oct
- Busan → Suseo train timetable, 16–19 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last listed departure 22:16 KTX-Sancheon 366 (arr 01:06) every day; KTX 368 at 23:00 that korail.com showed is missing here
- Korail press release: 코레일-에스알 9월 1일 하나로…안전 최우선, 더 편리한 고속철도의 시작 (31 Aug 2026)official — Integration and integrated running from 1 Sep 2026; KTX and SRT merged into KTX; average KTX fare cut about 10%; Suseo-axis seats up about 30%; 5% mileage; Korail+ app (Korail Talk + SRT app) launched 3 Aug
- Korail KTX fare table, effective 1 Sep 2026 (xls)official — Standard class: Seoul–Daejeon ₩21,600 (₩16,400 on Suwon-routed KTX); Seoul–Busan ₩54,400 (₩54,000 via Seodaegu, ₩49,300 via Gupo); Seoul–Cheonan-Asan ₩12,800; Seoul–Changwon Jungang ₩47,400 / ₩47,000 via Seodaegu; Seoul–Jinju ₩53,100 / ₩52,700; Seoul–Gangneung ₩27,600; Cheongnyangni–Andong ₩27,700 (KTX-Eum); Yongsan–Jeonju ₩31,600 / ₩31,000; Yongsan–Suncheon ₩42,300 / ₩41,800;
- Hankyung: 9월 1일부터 서울~부산 KTX 5만4400원…운임 평균 10% 인하 (31 Aug 2026)news — KTX and SRT run as KTX from 1 Sep; former SRT trainsets renamed KTX-Sancheon; Seoul–Busan ₩59,800→₩54,400, Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong ₩46,800→₩42,000; Suseo seats +30%; booking unified in Korail+
What we could not confirm
- 2027 dates, and whether the festival stays in June or returns to May, not announced as of 19 Oct 2026; no reason for the 2026 move to June was found.
- Suyeong-gu's festival page (suyeong.go.kr/festival) could not be opened from this environment; programme times come from Busan City's English posts and the KTO listing mirror.
- 2026 opening ceremony time not published (only that the 20:10 musical follows it).
- How to sign up for the bare-handed fish catching (on site or in advance), and any age or group limits.
- Which programmes run at Suyeong Historic Park during the festival.
- No 2026 visitor total or post-event report found; whether every 2026 programme ran as planned is unconfirmed.
- Edition count: 22nd in 2024 and 24th in 2026 per Busan City; the 8th was in 2008. Which years were skipped (presumably 2020–2021) is not verified.
- Festival parking, shuttle buses and road closures for the parade were not published on the pages opened.
- Japanese and Chinese names are Busan City's (広安里漁坊(オベン)祭り, 广安里渔坊节, 廣安里漁坊節); KTO's own foreign-language forms were not checked.
- Not in the site's TourAPI snapshot (listed.json); the KTO mirror page number 506545 is assumed to be the KTO contentId.
- Last train back from Busan Station to Seoul on the festival dates under the timetable in force that day.
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of Gwangalli Beach, the venue (Chelsea Hicks, CC BY 2.0). · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed last-train and last-bus clock times taken from the October 2026 timetable (next edition months away); the page now gives journey times and says to check the last train in the Korail app or at the station or terminal.
