Myeongnyang Battle Festival

The 2026 Myeongnyang Battle Festival will be held from Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13 at Woosuyoung Tourist Site in Haenam-gun and Nokjin Tourist Site in Jindo-gun, both around Uldolmok. Admission is free. Whether advance reservations will be required in 2026 has not yet been announced. Unlike the 6th festival in 2025, which was held from September 19 to 21, this year's event has been moved eight days earlier, while the two venues remain the same.

The 2026 Myeongnyang Battle Festival comes to Uldolmok eight days earlier than in 2025

The Myeongnyang Battle Festival has been held annually since 2008 as a historical and cultural festival by Jeollanam-do, Haenam-gun, and Jindo-gun. It commemorates the Battle of Myeongnyang, when the Joseon navy and fishermen from Jeolla Province defeated the Japanese navy at Uldolmok on September 16, 1597.

The 6th festival in 2025 was held from September 19 to 21 at Jindo's Nokjin Tourist Site and Haenam's Woosuyoung Tourist Site. In 2026, it will be held at the same two tourist sites from September 11 to 13, making the dates eight days earlier. Preparations announced in 2025 included about 300 safety personnel and a Peace Manga procession involving 400 people, including local residents, but it has not been announced whether the same staffing level and procession will operate in 2026.

How to reach the Myeongnyang Battle Festival via National Route 77 from Seoul and Busan

The official driving route from Seoul follows the West Coast Expressway, Mokpo IC, Mokpo Bridge, Yeongam Seawall, Geumho Seawall, National Route 77, and then Woosuyoung or Jindo. A second driving route via Daejeon, the Honam Expressway, the Muan-Gwangju Expressway, and Mokpo IC is also provided.

The route from Busan goes via the Namhae Expressway, Suncheon, Seoyeongam IC, Samho, Yeongam Seawall, Geumho Seawall, National Route 77, and then Woosuyoung or Jindo, or via Suncheon, Gangjin IC, National Route 13, Haenam, and National Route 18. The Jindo venue address is 8459-13 Jindmain road, Gunnae-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, and the Haenam venue address is 12 Gwangwang Leisure-ro, Munnae-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

Official transportation information also lists intercity buses and KTX/SRT, but transfer methods to the 2026 venues and temporary shuttle routes have not been announced. Since daily closing times and the last departures have not been confirmed, travelers coming from Seoul or Busan should assume that a same-day trip is not feasible and consider accommodation first.

2026 programs connecting Haenam at 11 a.m. and Jindo at noon on September 11

At the Haenam Myeongnyang Stage on September 11, the Haenam Ogu Gut will run from 11:00 to 12:00. At Haenam Seongmun Square, a guard-changing ceremony will run from 11:00 to 11:30, followed by the Woosuyoung Hakchum from 11:30 to 12:00. On the same day, the Yakmu Honam Sije will be held from 11:30 to 12:00 at the Jindo Jeongyu Japanese Invasion Martyrs' Shrine and Haenam Woosuyoung Chungmusa. For the morning programs, it is therefore more realistic to choose one area rather than travel between the two.

At Jindo Daegyo Square, dog sports featuring Jindo dogs will run from 12:00 to 12:30 on September 11, followed by Jindo Ganggangsullae from 12:30 to 13:00. The Jindo dog sports will run from 12:30 to 13:00 on September 12 and 13. The guard-changing ceremony will be held twice on September 13, from 11:00 to 11:30 and from 15:30 to 16:00.

The main 2026 stages will include an opening ceremony, a digital convergence naval battle, a departure parade, a maritime parade, and a whirlwind fireworks show. Landscape lighting for the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue, an exhibition of Joseon naval lanterns, an exhibition of Myeongnyang Battle records, a Myeongnyang Battle stamp rally, and Myeongnyang naval battle AR/MR experiences are also planned.

Participatory activities include trying on a general's uniform, a naval camp experience, and making traditional Korean musical instruments. There will also be an arm-wrestling competition, a youth trot song festival, and a youth song and dance competition. Admission is free, but this material does not specify additional fees for individual activities or on-site payment methods, so visitors should inquire before departure about whether they need to prepare extra money.

2026 information to check first compared with the 300 safety personnel in 2025

The full operating hours by date in 2026, detailed times for the main naval battle and fireworks shows, parking locations and fees, traffic controls, and operating, cancellation, and refund policies in case of rain have not yet been announced. The published information also does not identify places to buy food or restroom locations, so itineraries involving long stays at the venues should be adjusted after these details are released.

It is also unclear whether English-language guidance or interpretation will be available, as well as how accessible the sites will be for wheelchairs and strollers. Travelers who want to focus on exhibitions requiring Korean explanations or performances that require following the host's remarks, those seeking quiet viewing, and those who cannot return home late may find it difficult to plan using only the information currently available.

In addition to the inquiry number 061-802-2192, the official information lists 061-286-5265, 061-286-5251, 061-530-5158, and 061-540-3407. Before departing on September 11, call these numbers to confirm whether reservations are required, shuttle and parking arrangements, operating hours, and rainy-weather operations, then finalize your accommodation.

• Can I see all the Haenam programs on the morning of September 11? — The Haenam Ogu Gut runs from 11:00 to 12:00, the guard-changing ceremony from 11:00 to 11:30, and the Woosuyoung Hakchum from 11:30 to 12:00, so the times overlap.
• What programs follow one another at Jindo Daegyo Square on September 11? — Jindo dog sports run from 12:00 to 12:30, followed by Jindo Ganggangsullae from 12:30 to 13:00.
• Can I watch the guard-changing ceremony twice on September 13? — It will be held at Haenam Seongmun Square from 11:00 to 11:30 and from 15:30 to 16:00.
• What route should I enter in the map when driving from Seoul? — The official route follows Mokpo IC, Mokpo Bridge, Yeongam Seawall, Geumho Seawall, National Route 77, and then Woosuyoung or Jindo.