YONGIN — The city of Yongin said on the 7th that it will hold the 8th Starlight Night Market at Yongin Central Market from the 16th to the 18th. The market will run daily from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. An opening ceremony is set for 7 p.m. on the 16th, the first day.
The Starlight Night Market began in 2023 and has drawn steady interest from residents. It has since established itself as one of Yongin's signature nighttime festivals held at a traditional market.
The city said it is adding cultural and tourism elements to the traditional market to give residents a different kind of leisure space. For merchants, the city said, the event offers a chance to lift sales and revitalize the market.
Mayor Lee Sang-il said the Starlight Night Market "is growing into Yongin's flagship nighttime festival, linking the traditional market with local culture." He added that the city "will do its utmost in running the event and managing safety so that residents and visitors can make enjoyable memories."
This year's festival will also feature a congratulatory stage organized with Kyung Hee University. Students from the university's Department of Postmodern Music will perform a Yongin Central Market theme song they composed themselves.
Performances will run on the main stage and in a busking zone throughout the event. On the 16th, I'm Busker, a group affiliated with the Yongin Cultural Foundation, will perform alongside invited singers.
On the 17th, the finals of "I Am a Singer, Too," a program open to residents, will take the stage. Magic shows and traditional Korean music performances will also be held for the audience.
On the 18th, the final day, the stage will be filled with performances spanning traditional Korean music, dance and busking. Programs for visiting families are also planned.
Food offerings will be extensive. About 60 businesses and teams will take part, including beer and traditional liquor brewers, food trucks and local food vendors.
The city will also operate a picnic zone, a flea market and hands-on booths. Through these, it plans to create a festival space where people of all ages can linger and enjoy themselves.
