Korean Dream festival brings unification message with music, culture

The 2026 Korean Dream Hangang Festival brought the message of Korean unification to the banks of the Han River on National Foundation Day, seeking to engage the public through music, performances and citizen participation. Held at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Oct. 3, the festival carried the theme “From one beginning to one future,” tracing Korea’s shared origins and history of division while looking toward peace and unification. The event was hosted by the Korean Dream Hangang Festival organizing committee with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Organizers said this year’s event was designed to mark National Foundation Day by reflecting on the origins and future of the Korean people. The festival drew on the traditional principle of "Hongik Ingan," broadly translated as “benefiting all humanity,” while seeking to present unification through culture and public participation rather than political discussion alone. The festival followed last year’s event, held at the same venue as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from