2026 Raon Festa

April 4, 2026, 'Chungjang is coming Raon-ly!' turns on at 94 Chungjang-ro!

Chungjang Raon Festa is a festival for the Chungjang commercial district that has been ongoing since 2022. The 2026 event will be held from April 4 to November 7 throughout the Chungjang commercial district in Dong-gu, Gwangju. The address base point is 94 Chungjang-ro, around the Chungjang-ro Post Office. Admission is free, and the inquiry phone number is 062-413-1274. Since operating hours vary for each program, it felt more appropriate to walk slowly, connecting Chungjang-ro and the Geumnam Underground Shopping Mall, rather than just watching one performance and leaving. Basic Event Information

As of August 11, 2026, the remaining first Saturdays of the month are September 5, October 3, and November 7. The permanent programs include the Chungjang K-Star Challenge on the car-free street of Geumnam-ro, the Underground Mall Culture Day at the Meeting Square in the underground shopping mall, and the Dokkaebi Market at Chungjang-ro 4-5 ga. At the Chungjang Post Office, special features like 'Christmas in August' and the Onnuri Payback event were held, while the Raon Rock Festa was organized as the main concert on Geumnam-ro.

The most vivid record from the scene was the Water Rock Festival held on Geumnam-ro 1-3 ga on July 4, 2026. On the street where cars were stopped, from Jeonil Building 245 to Geumnam-ro Park, special stages, experience booths, water play areas, and food truck zones were lined up. Following the performances by local bands Moodrist, Two Five, and Detune, the July preliminaries for the Chungjang K-Star Challenge were also held. That day, nine participating teams took the stage, and it was wonderful to feel the road transform from a simple passage into a square for watching performances, resting, and eating. Gwangju Tourism Field Record

A route connecting Exit 1 of Geumnam-ro 4-ga Station and the Chungjang K-Star Challenge

By subway, Exit 1 of Geumnam-ro 4-ga Station offered convenient access to Chungjang-ro. Based on 83 Chungjang-ro, it is listed as a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Geumnam-ro 4-ga Station and a 6-minute walk from Exit 3 of Culture Complex (ACC) Station, making these two exits excellent starting points for reaching the area around 94 Chungjang-ro. By bus, the National Asia Culture Center (former Provincial Office) stop is 150m from the event base point, and the stop number is 1122. Seventeen routes pass by, including numbers 518, 1187, Geumnam 55, Geumnam 59, and Geumho 36.

At 94 Chungjang-ro, there is the Gwangju Chungjang-ro K-POP Star Street, and event information introduces this street as a linked spot just 34m away. It was easy to carry the excitement of the dancing and singing seen on stage into a stroll down the street, making the flow feel particularly natural when visiting with a friend who loves K-POP. English signage or separate interpretation services were not mentioned in the information. Instead, saving the event name and locations like Chungjang-ro Post Office, Geumnam-ro, and Meeting Square on a mobile map and inquiring at 062-413-1274 made it easier to plan the route.

Admission was free. However, for the guest singer standing area at the Raon Rock Festa on July 4, 2026, admission tickets were exchanged for receipts showing purchases of 20,000 KRW or more in the Chungjang commercial district, and both paper and mobile receipts were accepted at the time. Since information on whether cash or card payments were possible was not provided for each individual shop, it felt more reassuring to prepare both a card and a small amount of cash if you planned to browse small shops or the market. Gwangju Dong-gu Information

In July 2026, water cannons and underwater experience areas were operated, and there were records of children resting wrapped in blankets after playing in the water. If you encounter a program involving water, it would be a good idea to bring quick-drying clothes, an extra t-shirt, and shoes that can get wet. Since the Dokkaebi Market and Underground Mall Culture Day offered a different atmosphere from the outdoor stage, I recommend visiting the Underground Mall Meeting Square first on days when heat or rain might be a concern.

Preparation tips learned from the 900-person standing area at Water Rock on July 4

Because the event spaces were divided into Chungjang-ro, Geumnam Underground Shopping Mall, and Geumnam-ro, moving from one place to another required more walking than expected. On July 4, 2026, people began gathering to wait for performances from the afternoon, and as the evening Water Rock stage began, the crowd gathered again in front of the special stage. If there was a performance I wanted to see, it was more convenient to arrive a bit early to check the operation booth, rest areas, and the way home rather than arriving right at the start.

In particular, the guest singer performance at the Raon Rock Festa in July 2026 limited the standing area to 900 people. At that time, receipts for purchases over 20,000 KRW in the Chungjang commercial district had to be exchanged for admission tickets at the general operation booth on the day of the event, so preparing the receipt and waiting for the exchange were key variables for those wanting to see the performance immediately. These conditions were specific to the July 4 event, and for the September 5, October 3, and November 7 programs, checking the date-specific guidance one more time can help prevent unnecessary trips. July 2026 Operation Guide

On the July 2026 site, there were medical booths and cooling centers, and water spray zones and viewing routes were marked. There was space to sit and rest next to the food trucks, and Cass beer was sold for 3,000 KRW. However, since this is also a record from July 4, it is difficult to assume that the same booths and prices will be maintained for future events. While dedicated parking information was not provided in the event guide, using the National Asia Culture Center (former Provincial Office) stop 150m away could help avoid the exhaustion of searching for parking during car-free street hours.

Walks in Chungjang-ro until November 7: which friends would enjoy them?

Raon Festa was a good fit for those who prefer walking through an original downtown commercial district, connecting stages, underground malls, and markets, rather than a single massive venue. For travelers who love dance competitions, the Chungjang K-Star Challenge would be ideal; for those who want to see local shops and lifestyle culture, the Underground Mall Culture Day and Dokkaebi Market would be best; and for those who enjoy the intense energy of summer, the records of the July 2026 Water Rock Festival would be particularly interesting.

Starting from the front of the Chungjang-ro Post Office and walking toward Geumnam-ro, you could see people waiting for performances, sharing food, and taking breaks within the local business district. For foreign friends who want to experience the urban rhythm of Gwangju through their own footsteps rather than quickly skimming through glamorous tourist courses, Raon Festa seemed likely to provide a warm and authentic day of local life.