SUWON — The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization said on Oct. 12 that about 15,000 visitors attended the 2026 GHOST (Gyeonggi Hallyu OST) Festival, held over three days from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11 at Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju.
The inaugural GHOST Festival combined the symbolic setting of the Demilitarized Zone with original soundtracks, one of the signature genres of Korean content. Organizers designed the event with the aim of building a global tourism brand representing Gyeonggi Province.
Imjingak Peace Nuri Park, the venue, carries the dual meaning of national division and peace. Organizers staged popular music concerts and hands-on programs there so that visitors could experience the history, culture and tourism resources of the DMZ alongside the music.
Performers included the rock band YB and the Kim Chang-wan Band, as well as Baek Z Young, Gummy, Lyn, Rain, WINNER and Wendy, artists with fan bases at home and abroad. More than 30 acts performed over the three days, drawing enthusiastic responses from the audience.
Side programs were set up around the concert grounds, including K-beauty makeup sessions and an exhibition on film and drama shooting locations in Gyeonggi Province. By adding participatory content to the music lineup, the festival was designed to appeal to both families and foreign tourists.
Tourism-linked programs also drew attention. Stay-over packages tied to the Peace Nuri campground and free and paid shuttle bus services improved access to the venue. The event showed potential to generate tourism demand that keeps visitors in the area rather than drawing them only for a concert.
Organizers also made an effort to attract overseas visitors. The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization worked with inbound travel agencies to sell tickets. Observers say the move laid the groundwork for the GHOST Festival to grow into a cultural tourism offering that appeals to both domestic and international travelers.
"Through this festival, we confirmed the potential of a new form of tourism content," an official at the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization said. "We will raise the quality of the event so that the DMZ develops beyond a security tourism site into a center of peace and culture that draws people from around the world."