'Festival Gwangmyeong' Draws 60,000 Visitors Over Two Days...Credit Card Spending Up 35.4%

Gwangmyeong City (Mayor Park Seung-won) announced analysis data showing that the '2026 Festival Gwangmyeong' held on October 3-4 achieved both citizen satisfaction and local economic activation.

The city revealed on the 22nd that the event attracted a total of 60,409 visitors over two days, with credit card spending also increasing by 35.4%.

According to visitor population analysis using telecommunications data, the number of visitors who stayed for more than 30 minutes near Cheolsan Station, where the festival was held, was 37,272 on October 3 and 23,137 on October 4, totaling 60,409 visitors.

This represents a 98.2% increase compared to the 30,474 visitors during the weekend of September 19-20, two weeks before the festival.

Credit card spending in Cheolsan District 3, where the festival took place, amounted to approximately 525.25 million won, a 35.4% increase from approximately 387.91 million won in spending from September 19-20, before the festival.

Additionally, analysis using the 'Korea Tourism Data Lab,' a tourism big data service provided by the Korea Tourism Organization, revealed that with increases in tourism consumption including food and beverage services and leisure services, the economic ripple effect of this year's Festival Gwangmyeong was approximately 464.13 million won, a 34.4% increase from last year's economic ripple effect of 345.35 million won.

In a satisfaction survey conducted during the festival period, 1,142 people participated. Satisfaction with singer performances was reported at 84.3% (963 people), and satisfaction with performance facilities such as sound and lighting was recorded at 83.6% (955 people).

The artist performance 'GM Live' was chosen as the most satisfying program at 62.7% (716 people). Citizen participation open stage and parade followed at 28.8% (329 people), and busking performances at 25.6% (292 people).

Mayor Park Seung-won stated, "The value of a festival grows greater when the joy of culture and the arts enriches citizens' daily lives, and the festival's enthusiasm translates into vitality for local business and the economy."