Yangyang Pine Mushroom and Salmon Festival Unveils Four Official Characters

Yangyang County in Gangwon State and the Yangyang Cultural Foundation unveiled four official characters for the 2026 Yangyang Pine Mushroom and Salmon Festival on September 15, 2026. The characters, which will lead the festival's story, were released ahead of its opening. The festival is hosted by Yangyang County and organized by the Yangyang Cultural Foundation. It ran from October 16 to 18 on the banks of the Namdaecheon Stream.

The characters are divided into the world of the mountain and the world of the river. The mountain world has Songsongi, a mountain spirit symbolizing pine mushrooms and the forest, and Solhalbae, a wise pine tree grandfather symbolizing the pine forest and pine mushrooms. The river world has Yeondongi, a salmon that went out to sea and returned to the Namdaecheon Stream, and Daecheon Eommeom, a mother character symbolizing salmon and the Namdaecheon Stream.

The character designs were applied to photo zones, information facilities and official merchandise at the festival site. The festival programs were also built around the characters' story, including the "Pine Mushroom and Salmon Expedition" for families, a salmon roe gacha and a stamp tour.

Yangyang County set direct sales of local specialties and greater spending by staying visitors as the festival's goals.