Hansan Daecheop's 'Hakikjin' Tactics to Be Recreated as a Festival
This summer, a special festival will unfold in Tongyeong, where the blue sea meets history and culture.
The 65th Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Festival, one of Tongyeong's representative historical and cultural festivals, will be held for five days from the 12th to the 16th at Hansan Daecheop Plaza, Gangguan, and Yi Sun-sin Park.
Hosted and organized by Tongyeong City and the Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Cultural Foundation, this year's festival is themed "The Admiral's Sea, The Wartime Diary of Tears." It was prepared to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Hansan in 1592, when the Joseon navy defeated Japanese warships off Hansan Island and secured control of the seas, and to shed light on the patriotic spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and the narrative contained in his Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary).
On the first day of the festival, the 12th, events will be held at Sebyeonggwan to mark the opening, including the Chungnyeolsa ancestral rite, the procession of the Three Provinces Naval Commander, military roll call, and a Black Eagles air show.
The festival's biggest highlight is the "Hansan Naval Battle Reenactment" maritime performance, which will take place on the third day, the 14th, in the waters off Yi Sun-sin Park. Dozens of vessels, including turtle ships, government ships, and local fishing boats, will be mobilized on the actual sea to display the hakikjin (crane wing) formation tactics and vividly recreate the battle scene.
This year's festival has also strengthened nighttime stay-type content. On the 14th, a "Tonight Tongyeong EDM (Electronic Dance Music) Party" targeting young visitors will be held; on the 15th, the "2026 Tonight Tongyeong Fireworks Show" will light up the night sky around Gangguan; and on the 17th, a "Citizens' Grand Gathering and Street Parade" will follow.
In addition, during the festival, the operating hours of the Gangguan nighttime landscape facilities will be extended by one hour, from the previous 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Accordingly, the digital signage and media art at Culture Yard will also run longer, and the Gangguan Bridge music fountain can be enjoyed every night during the festival.
In addition, the Hansan Daecheop Playground, a water play facility for children, along with food trucks and a flea market linked to the local commercial district, will be set up to enhance convenience for visitors.
An official from the Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Cultural Foundation said, "We are preparing it as a convergence festival where visitors can experience the narrative of the Battle of Hansan through strengthened historical authenticity and cultural diversity."
