Gijang-gun Pet Culture Festival

A festival you can go to with your dog — we met at Jeonggwan Central Park

While looking for a place in Busan where I could spend a whole day with my dog, I found out about this festival. The Gijang-gun Companion Animal Culture Festival is held at Jeonggwan Central Park, 27 Guyen 3-ro, Jeonggwan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan. If you imagine pet animals, owners, and local residents mingling and walking across the grass, that is exactly the vibe. It is the third time the festival has been held in 2026, and the theme is 'A Happy Coexistence with Pets.' What I liked was that it is designed as a place to naturally learn pet culture, so even people who do not keep dogs would not feel out of place.

What I paid special attention to was the program lineup. The core consists of cultural programs such as a long-running pet festival, a run with dog owners, and the amusing 'pet staring contest.' A contest to see which dog can stay blank-faced the longest is exactly the kind of scene you can only see at a pet festival. On top of that, hands-on programs like a dog agility experience, homemade snack making, health grooming, and necklace making add to the fun of making something together with your child (the dog).

A foreign traveler's day flows like this

Before you go, you only need to decide two things. First, you do not need to worry about admission. This festival is free. However, some programs such as homemade snack making or grooming experiences may require material fees or advance registration, so if there is a specific activity you definitely want to do, it is safer to go to the booth early on the day and ask whether registration is available. Second, think about the weather and what to wear. Since it is an outdoor grass park with not much shade and runs all day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., bringing a hat, water, and a water bowl for your dog will make things much more comfortable.

Let me be honest about transportation. Jeonggwan New Town is still an area not connected to the subway, so there is no way to get right to the entrance with a single subway ride. Usually, people access it by bus from downtown Busan, and even from the Jeonggwan center to Jochun Station by public transport takes at least 30 minutes. So for travelers with dogs, a taxi or rental car is realistically the most convenient option. Just use an app like Kakao T and set your destination to 'Jeonggwan Central Park.' For reference, the Jeonggwan Line tram, a streetcar connecting Jeonggwan-eup and Jochun Station, is planned and being promoted, but it has not opened yet, so at the time of your visit, buses and taxis are the answer.

Once you arrive on site, the language barrier is not that big. The guidance is mostly in Korean, so it may be hard to catch every detail, but there are many programs you can enjoy just by watching, such as agility and the staring contest, so it is fun even without interpretation. There are several photo zones for taking dog pictures, so if you have a camera, half a day goes by in no time. There are cafeterias, a pet swimming pool, and a playground among the facilities, so it is nice to let your dog rest or play in the water in between. Payment at the cafeteria or activity booths is usually possible by card or mobile pay, but some small booths or flea-market-style stalls may only accept cash, so bring a few 10,000-won bills.

Between the staring contest and the stray-animal adoption information center

This is why this festival does not end as just a dog playground. On one side, the funny staring contest is going on, while on the other side there are an adoption information center for stray animals, an animal protection campaign, and a booth promoting the pet registration system. It is structured so that while having fun, you naturally learn about respect for life and responsible pet culture, so if you are someone wondering whether to keep a dog, it may help you sort out your thoughts. Educational programs include dog behavior correction, walking classes, and first-aid education, so even if you are traveling, there is practical knowledge to take home.

There is also a pet performance festival recruiting teams through social media. Watching dogs show off their tricks on stage keeps the audience laughing nonstop. In addition, there are social media festival promotion events, prize drawings, and a welcome event for tourists, so it is actually a festival where visitors from outside may have even more to enjoy.

Make sure you know this before you go

The first things to prepare are your dog's leash, waste bags, and proof of basic vaccinations such as rabies. Since many animals gather in one place, if your dog is sensitive, bringing a muzzle or carrier will make things easier for everyone. The busiest time is usually around noon, and the most crowded period is in the afternoon when stage performances and contests are concentrated. If you want to look around quietly, I recommend arriving right after opening at 10:00 a.m. Since it is an outdoor event, programs may be reduced or changed if it rains, so it is a good idea to check the weather forecast the day before and bring rain gear just in case.

• Dog essentials: leash, waste bags, water bowl, snacks
• Owner essentials: hat, water, some cash, raincoat for wet weather
• Transportation: taxi/rental car recommended (no direct subway connection), destination is 'Jeonggwan Central Park'
• Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., free admission (some experiences may be paid)

This is a festival I can confidently recommend to anyone planning a trip with a dog in Busan, or to families who want to lightly experience pet culture. It will be one of those days where you go without huge expectations and end up going home with your camera full of your dog's smiling face.