*Food stall information for the 2026 festival is currently being updated.* The festival originated on April 13, 1952, when the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the first of its kind in Korea, was erected at Bukwon Rotary and a memorial service was held. In its early days, the festival was solely a memorial service held at Bukwon Rotary, where the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin stands. However, starting in 1963, it began to be held as the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival. While maintaining its original purpose of commemorating the Admiral's noble spirit of national salvation and promoting local culture and arts, it has steadily developed into a vibrant spring festival where visitors can enjoy cultural and artistic events, the World Military Band and Honor Guard Festival, and Paldo Pungmul Market alongside beautiful cherry blossoms. Boasting a long history and tradition, it has now firmly established itself as a national-scale festival, attracting over 2 million domestic and international tourists annually during the festival period. The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, considered the best cherry blossom festival, is held in March, drawing cherry blossom enthusiasts from across Korea to this port city embracing the calm sea. When the pure white blossoms of 360,000 royal cherry trees burst forth all at once, people indulging in photo-taking to create spring memories in the world's largest cherry blossom city, and those enchanted by the spring feast of scattered cherry blossom petals, come together in a swaying spectacle, creating a magnificent festival scene. The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival features events commemorating the spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and cherry blossom themed events. Major events like the pre-festival celebration, Paldo Pungmul Market, and cultural and artistic performances are held at Jungwon Rotary, while at Bukwon Rotary, offerings of tea and flowers to Admiral Yi Sun-sin's statue, a grand memorial service, and the Victory Parade take place. Additionally, the Military Band and Honor Guard Festival, which utilizes the characteristics of a naval port city, is held on Friday evenings and weekends during the festival period. This military art performance, integrating military bands and honor guards, showcases the powerful marching performances of military bands and the disciplined displays of honor guards in their impressive uniforms, a spectacle only to be seen at the Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival. The Naval Academy and Jinhae Naval Base Command, normally restricted areas, are must-visit locations during the festival. Here, visitors can participate in various experiential programs such as visiting the Naval Academy Museum and the Turtle Ship, viewing ships on display, photography exhibitions, trying on naval uniforms, and yacht cruises, while enjoying the magnificent cherry blossoms of over 100-year-old royal cherry trees along with the features of Korea's naval base. Known cherry blossom spots at Jinhae Gunhangje, such as Naesumyeon Eco Park, Yeojwacheon Stream, Gyeonghwa Station, Jinhae Tower, and Jinhaeru, are must-visit places. If you take the Jehwangsan Monorail and look down at the city from the rooftop of Jinhae Tower, you'll see a landscape stretching long from east to west, with screen-like mountains above and a calm sea below. Centered around Jungwon Rotary's eight streets, 100-year-old buildings where modernity and history coexist, along with 360,000 cherry trees, blend together, allowing you to take in the charming and peaceful city at a glance. Jinhae-gu has three main rotaries in the city center: Jungwon, Bukwon, and Namwon Rotaries, with eight roads spreading out from each. Modern cultural heritage sites are scattered in every alley around Jungwon Rotary, with many 100-year-old buildings such as Jinhae Post Office, Seonhak Gomtang restaurant, Heukbaek Dabang (cafe), Yeonghaeru, and Ppojjokjip. After a time travel journey through the alleys of Jungwon Rotary's eight streets, a must-visit place is the Naval Port Village History Museum, where you can directly listen to storytelling along with photos of naval port development and old cityscapes dating back to 1902, allowing you to immerse yourself in another charm of Jinhae with its cherry blossoms.
1. Main Programs: Jinhae Gunhangje Opening Ceremony, Military Band and Honor Guard Festival (Opening Ceremony, Marching Performance), Grand Memorial Service for Admiral Yi Sun-sin, Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Victory Parade, Black Eagles Air Show, Cherry Blossom Music Festival, Jinhae Gunhangje Song Festival, Naval Port K-POP Dance Competition 2. Subsidiary Programs: Patriotic Parade, Fringe Performances, Cultural and Artistic Performances, Military Base Open House Event, Yeojwacheon Starlight Festival, Pop-up Store, Jinhaeru Multimedia Fireworks Show, Jinhae Beach Park Gamsung Pocha (Emotional Street Food Cart) etc. 3. Consumer Participation Programs: Jinhae Gunhangje Song Festival, Naval Port K-pop Dance Competition, Naval Port AI Video Contest, Blossom Symphony, Jinhae Cherry Blossom Fun Night Walk, Naval Port Night Festa 4. Other Content: Naval Port Brand Fair, Naval Port Village, National Haedong Gumdo Competition, etc.
1. Main Programs: Jinhae Gunhangje Opening Ceremony, Military Band and Honor Guard Festival (Opening Ceremony, Marching Performance), Grand Memorial Service for Admiral Yi Sun-sin, Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Victory Parade, Black Eagles Air Show, Cherry Blossom Music Festival, Jinhae Gunhangje Song Festival, Naval Port K-POP Dance Competition 2. Subsidiary Programs: Patriotic Parade, Fringe Performances, Cultural and Artistic Performances, Military Base Open House Event, Yeojwacheon Starlight Festival, Pop-up Store, Jinhaeru Multimedia Fireworks Show, Jinhae Beach Park Gamsung Pocha (Emotional Street Food Cart) etc. 3. Consumer Participation Programs: Jinhae Gunhangje Song Festival, Naval Port K-pop Dance Competition, Naval Port AI Video Contest, Blossom Symphony, Jinhae Cherry Blossom Fun Night Walk, Naval Port Night Festa 4. Other Content: Naval Port Brand Fair, Naval Port Village, National Haedong Gumdo Competition, etc.
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