Tongyeong Hansan Great Victory Festival

The festival where Turtle Ships fly through the air, before heading to Tongyeong

One of the Three Great Victories of the Imjin War, the Hansan Battle victory is commemorated at the Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival held in Tongyeong. It is held over the very sea where Admiral Yi Sun-sin defeated the Japanese navy with the crane wing formation, and each summer it brings back the shouts of victory. Started in 1962 and continuing to this day, it is one of Korea’s representative patriotic and historical-cultural festivals, and this year marks its 65th edition. Since it has long followed the principle of being held around Victory Day, the 7th day of the 7th lunar month (August 14 in the solar calendar), travelers visiting Tongyeong in midsummer are very likely to have their schedule overlap with it.

The 65th festival will be held from August 12 to 16, 2026, across Tongyeong, including Hansan Battle Square, Gangguan Cultural Plaza, Yi Sun-sin Park, and Mujeon-daero, under the theme "The Admiral’s Sea, The Nanjung Ilgi of Tears." Rather than a festival where everything is concentrated on one stage, the whole city becomes the stage, so it’s great to spend a day or two walking around and enjoying it at a relaxed pace. The processions of the Third Naval Commander-in-Chief, military inspections, the Hansan naval battle departure ceremony and reenactment, the opening ceremony and original musical, and the fireworks show that fills the night — this is a festival where the face of day and night changes completely.

A foreign traveler’s day — from the terminal to Gangguan, and the night sea

Tongyeong is a city without a train station. So most people arrive at the Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal (Jukrim District) by express or intercity bus, and from there you need to take a city bus or taxi to Gangguan and Hansan Battle Square, where the festival is held. The terminal is a little away from the city center in Jukrim, so if you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with others, a taxi is the more comfortable choice. The Gangguan area is the old downtown along Tongyeong Port, with restaurants and cafes on every alley, so once you arrive at the festival site, you’ll hardly need to wander around looking for a place to eat.

If I were planning the route, I’d spend the day slowly walking around Gangguan Cultural Plaza and Tongjeyeong Street, watching things like the procession of the Third Naval Commander-in-Chief, the gate guard change ceremony, and a Joseon navy training experience, then move over to Hansan Battle Square in the evening. The highlight is definitely the night. The Hansan naval battle reenactment on Mujeon-daero features a real Turtle Ship model and even aerial performances, making the summer-night center of Tongyeong turn into a battlefield from over 400 years ago — that’s the real showstopper. Then on the night of August 15, the "2026 Two Night Tongyeong Fireworks Show" takes place over the sea at Gangguan, and last year it filled the night sky with one of Gyeongnam’s largest fireworks displays, lasting 20 minutes.

You can relax a little about the language barrier. Since the festival’s backbone is made up of visual programs like naval battle reenactments, fireworks, and parades, not understanding Korean explanations won’t be a major obstacle to following along. Food is also easy to enjoy, with the Gangguan commercial district and the festival’s food trucks and flea market operating together, making it fun to buy Tongyeong specialties like Chungmu gimbap, hoddeok bread, and seafood from the alleyways.

Fireworks viewing seats and "receipt admission" — knowing this in advance helps

The first thing to know is how the nighttime fireworks show is viewed. Last year’s Two Night Tongyeong Fireworks Show operated a total of 6,800 seats, including 1,800 seats at the main stage and 5,000 at the multipurpose pier. What’s interesting is the admission method: outside visitors could receive an entry wristband by showing receipts or payment records showing more than 50,000 won spent in Tongyeong city, while Tongyeong residents could enter free on a first-come, first-served basis with just an ID card. In other words, receipts from eating and shopping locally can effectively become your ticket, so if you plan to spend money in Tongyeong, don’t throw those receipts away. However, this operating method can change from year to year, so it’s a good idea to check the official channels once for the detailed 2026 admission rules.

The second thing is securing a spot. Night programs such as the fireworks show and Hansan naval battle reenactment draw large crowds, so if you want a good view, it’s safer to arrive one or two hours before the start. The third is your return route. Tongyeong has no urban rail, and city buses become sparse late at night, so if you stay until the end of the night programs and then head back, it’s much easier if you plan on a taxi in advance or book a hotel within walking distance of Gangguan. Finally, August in Tongyeong is hot and humid. Last year, heat relief shelters and heat-wave response programs were prepared, showing that midsummer heat is no joke, so bring a hat, water, and a fan, and save your energy by alternating between indoor exhibitions and shaded areas during the day.

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If you’re interested in Korean history, especially the stories of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and the Joseon navy, this festival is like moving a textbook straight onto the sea. Even if you’re not confident in the language, you can still enjoy it fully through reenactments, fireworks, and parades, while also taking in Tongyeong’s unique harbor alleys and food all at once. If you prepare in advance for the midsummer heat and your late-night return route, you’ll be able to witness the moment when the shouts of victory from over 400 years ago burst once again into the summer night sky of Tongyeong.