Youth Day Festival in South Korea

The reason I headed to Gwangalli on the third Saturday of September

In Korea, there is a national observance called "Youth Day." It falls on the third Saturday of every September, and it was officially designated when the Framework Act on Youth was passed by the National Assembly in 2020. The organization that started it all was the Korea Youth and Future Association, which has been calling for Youth Day to become an official observance since 2016 and has held a festival every year. What I visited this time was the 10th festival, marking its 10th anniversary, and the stage that had moved around Seoul (Olympic Park, Yeouido, Nanji Hangang Park, Daehangno) had, for the first time, come down to Gwangalli Beach in Busan. I took the KTX because I was curious what a youth festival with the sea as its backdrop would look like.

My first impression upon arriving was, "This isn't a serious policy event; it's a huge festival." A special stage is set up on the white sand of Gwangalli, and the whole day is filled with performances like a K-POP concert, a university song festival, the Korea Cheerleading Championship, a creator festival, and a youth choir of 100 people. During the day, the area is crowded with startup and entrepreneurship experience booths, MBTI tests, beauty experiences, and a food festival, and when night falls, the atmosphere changes completely.

Why it was easy to get through the day even alone as a foreigner

Let me start with the most reassuring point. This festival is free to enter. You can simply walk onto the sand without buying a separate ticket or making a reservation in advance. However, popular stages like the K-POP concert fill up quickly in the front viewing area, so if you want a good spot, it's better to get there one or two hours before the performance starts. I arrived late and ended up standing fairly far back from the stage.

The route there was easier than I expected. From Gwangan Station on Busan Metro Line 2, if you exit through Exit 3 or Exit 5, it's a little over a 10-minute walk toward the sea. You can also walk a similar distance from Geumnyeonsan Station. As you go down the alleys, Gwangan Bridge suddenly comes into view, and from that point on you're at the event site. You don't need to worry about on-site payment. Most food festival booths and nearby cafes and convenience stores accept cards and mobile payments such as Samsung Pay and Kakao Pay. Still, it helps to carry around KRW 10,000 to 20,000 in cash just in case of small street vendors.

In terms of language, there are many "watch and enjoy" programs such as the K-POP stage, dance challenges, and the drone show, so even if you don't speak Korean, it's easy to get into the mood. On the other hand, programs that require explanation, such as youth policy booths or entrepreneurship experience areas, are mostly in Korean, so it's more realistic to think of those as something to browse casually and figure out as you go. Gwangalli itself is one of the beaches most visited by foreigners in Busan, so many shops nearby have English menus or staff who are used to communicating with translation apps.

The highlight of this festival: the drone show over the night sea

Honestly, even the daytime programs were packed, but the real strength of a festival held in Gwangalli is at night. The Gwangalli M Drone Light Show is Korea's first permanent drone show, and you can already see it every Saturday night from anywhere along Gwangalli Beach; each show runs for about 12 minutes and unfolds against the backdrop of Gwangan Bridge and the night sea. Hundreds to a thousand drones draw pictures in the sky, and at the end you can even see them gather together and gently descend onto the sand, and at that moment everyone on the beach let out a collective gasp. During the Youth Day festival period, the drone show is linked with nighttime performances such as the K-POP concert and silent DJ dance, turning all of Gwangalli into a giant outdoor club.

However, the drone show is sensitive to weather and communication conditions. If it rains or the wind is strong, it may be canceled or delayed, so I recommend checking the organizer's official channel once for that evening's status before heading out. Even in summer, the sea breeze can get quite chilly at night, so bring a thin outer layer, and if you plan to sit on the sand for a long time, a picnic mat will be helpful.

When the night gets crowded, just take care of the way home in advance

One very practical tip: when the night performances end, crowds all head toward Gwangan Station at once. The subway last train time can be cutting it close, so if you plan to watch everything until the end and move at a relaxed pace, it is more comfortable to book accommodation near Gwangalli or Haeundae. Otherwise, check the last train time in advance. Taxis are really hard to get right after the event ends, so it's better to walk a bit to a main road or wait around 30 minutes before moving.

There are public restrooms at the beach and temporary restrooms at the event site, but the lines get long at night. It's best to go early, and water or simple snacks can be bought easily at convenience stores around the sand. If you're visiting with children, I recommend focusing on the daytime experience booths and leaving before the crowds build up.

In short, this festival is perfect for travelers in their 20s and 30s who want to enjoy K-POP, a drone show, and the sea all in one day, as well as foreign friends curious about the current mood of Korean youth culture. It's not common to enjoy a stage of this scale without an admission fee. Against the sound of waves and the lights of drones in Gwangalli, I hope you also have a great night.