National Ocean Sports Festival
🗓️ 2026.08.27 ~ 2026.08.30
The 18th National Marine Sports Festival is the largest comprehensive marine sports festival in Korea. It is held to increase public interest in marine sports and to expand the base of marine leisure culture. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and operated jointly by the host city and related organizations. Official competitions and exhibition matches bring marine sports athletes and enthusiasts from across the country to a different location each year. This year, the 18th edition will take place in Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, featuring yachting, canoeing, underwater/fin swimming, and triathlon.
The festival is designed as a festive venue where athletes, citizens, and tourists can all participate and enjoy themselves. Alongside the official events, there are marine leisure experience programs such as banana boats, kayaks, and SUP paddleboards, plus cultural performances and side events. With sports, tourism, and experiences gathered against the backdrop of Geoje’s marine environment, it offers a full itinerary for visitors who want to watch or try something new.
Official Ceremonies
- Opening Ceremony: Pre-ceremony performance, opening ceremony, post-ceremony performance, etc.
- Closing Ceremony: Handing over of the competition flag, farewell address, closing declaration, post-ceremony performance, etc.
Official Sports
- Yachting
- Canoe
- Underwater/Fin Swimming
- Triathlon
Exhibition Events
- Dragon Boat
- Rubber Boat
- Flyboard
Marine Experience Events
- Dragon Boat
- Rubber Boat
- Banana Boat
- Flying Fish
- Peanut Boat
- Kayak (2-seater)
- SUP Paddleboard
- Marine Adventure
Marine Cultural Events
- Drawing ocean postcards
- Ocean Love five-line poems
- Fashion tattoos
- Making keyrings
- Digital photo printing
- Making paracord bracelets
- etc.
Practical Information
đź“Ť Address: 15-44 Jisepho-haean-ro, Ilun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
🛏️ Accommodation near the event
đź’° Fee: Free
đź“ž Inquiry: 055-639-4182~6
🖥️ Website: www.geoje.go.kr/marinesports/index.geoje
Geoje is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, on Geoje Island, South Korea’s second-largest island after Jeju. The island sits off the southern coast, between Busan and Tongyeong. Its coastline is a mix of rocky headlands, beaches, and small harbors. Inland, the terrain is hilly and forested, with walking trails crossing the island.
Maritime industries have shaped Geoje for decades. Large shipyards operate along the eastern shore, and fishing villages remain active in the smaller coves. In recent years, the same waters have come to be used for recreation—kayaking, paddleboarding, yacht tours, and diving are now standard offerings.
Geoje’s existing marine infrastructure, along with its beaches and sheltered coastal waters, makes it suited to host a multi-event sports festival. The 2026 National Marine Sports Festival will take place there.
