Gimpo Aramareen Festival, a signature marine festival in the Seoul metropolitan area, will be held at Gimpo Aramarina for three days starting on the 19th. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the festival has expanded content that uses waterfront and waterside infrastructure, including a giant water slide, water leisure experiences, cultural performances, and citizen-participation programs.
Gimpo city said on the 10th it will hold the 2026 Gimpo Aramareen Festival in and around Gimpo Aramarina from the 19th to the 21st. The festival is co-hosted by Gimpo city and Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), and organized by K-water Operations Management.
The flagship program of this year's festival is the "Pori Race." It is a race in which toy duck figures are set afloat on a large water slide installed on land and moved to the finish point. Participants write a name or nickname that can identify them on the duck figure to take part. Prizes will be given to the top three finishers who cross the line first. The races will be held at 5 p.m. on the 19th, and at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the 20th and 21st, respectively.
A variety of water leisure experiences will also be offered. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, SUP, water bikes, a power yacht Han River tour, sailing yachts, and a dinghy yacht school. The experience fees range from 3,000 won to 5,000 won depending on the activity. By adding 2,000 won, visitors can purchase a package that includes a ticket to the Pori Race.
Marine Land, a water play area for children, will be expanded this year. Marine Land will feature a lazy river, a giant water slide, a water play zone for infants and toddlers, water soccer, and a splash pad zone. A half-day pass is 7,000 won and a full-day pass is 12,000 won, and purchasing a pass provides a chance to enter the Pori Race. Through the 15th, the second round of advance reservations is underway for Marine Land all-access passes and water leisure experience programs. The first round of advance reservations sold out early.
During the festival, cultural performances and participatory programs will continue. On the 20th, when the opening ceremony takes place, singers Tei, SeeYa, and Park Jae-jung will take the stage. Aramareen Water Bomb, which combines a DJ show with water-gun fights, Sunset Cinema, which screens movies against the backdrop of the Ara Waterway waterfront, and a yacht and boat exhibition zone showcasing yachts, boats, and water leisure equipment will also operate.
In addition, there will be Araretreat, an outdoor healing yoga program, Water Soccer, where children and fathers play together in an air-bounce pool, and Poricarnival, a parade featuring a wind band and spectators. The Dinghy Yacht One-day Class and the Marina Vessel Engine Maintenance Education One-day Class are free with advance registration.
A Gimpo city official said, "We are preparing the festival so that both residents and tourists can enjoy it together," adding, "We hope you fully enjoy special water play and the fun of water leisure at Gimpo Aramarina this summer."