Jinhae Gunhangje, the signature spring festival of Changwon Special City, has been selected as a preliminary cultural tourism festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for 2026–2027.

The preliminary designation serves as a stepping stone toward full cultural tourism festival status for 2028–2029.

The festival was recommended to the ministry following review by Gyeongsangnam-do’s provincial committee and was ultimately selected after a comprehensive evaluation of its performance record and future growth potential.

Over the two-year designation period, the festival will undergo evaluations involving experts, visitors and local residents.

It will also receive support through capacity-building programs, including project-based consulting and festival conferences. Based on future assessment results, it may advance to official cultural tourism festival status.

Now in its 64th year, the 2026 Jinhae Gunhangje is scheduled to run from March 27 to April 5. Known for its spectacular cherry blossoms and cultural programs honoring Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the festival is expected to once again attract visitors from across Korea and abroad.