Bucheon hosts 'Wijo Chimaek Festival', where movies meet beer

Bucheon's Summer Festival Blending Movies and Beer

Bucheon City, Gyeonggi-do, will host the '2026 WE-JOY Chimeak Festival,' an urban complex cultural festival that combines movies and beer. Held from July 3 to 4, 2026, at the Bucheon City Hall Lawn Plaza and the surrounding Car-Free Street, this festival is designed by utilizing the cultural assets of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). The name 'WE-JOY' is a combination of 'WE' and 'JOY,' embodying the meaning of all citizens enjoying together.

Under the theme 'Beer & Film · Kick · Beat,' the festival will showcase a diverse range of programs, including outdoor movie screenings accompanied by award-winning craft beers, busking performances, live broadcasts of Bucheon FC away matches, VR performances, Horror Night zombie performances, and the Odd Lawn Concert. To encourage citizen participation, activities such as decorating reusable cups and scratch memo experience exhibitions will also be operated.

Aiming for a Participatory Model Beyond Commercial Centers

Bucheon City is building this festival not merely as a food-centered event, but as an urban festival model where citizens and families can enjoy culture. The core objective is to enhance the city brand through content that combines movies, beer, and music. At the festival site, adult verification procedures will be strictly managed, and citizen-centric programs such as free movie screenings and busking have been strengthened.

Mayor Cho Yong-ik stated, "We will create a sustainable festival model that also generates economic effects." Bucheon City aims for a model where a single representative festival forms the city brand and drives the local economy, similar to the Montreal International Jazz Festival or the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Four-Season Integrated Brand 'Bucheon Festa' Project

The WE-JOY Chimeak Festival is part of 'Bucheon Festa,' the city's integrated festival brand. Bucheon City is pursuing a project to increase operational efficiency and reduce redundant costs by organically connecting dispersed cultural and festival content. To increase visitor stay time, win-win strategies using restaurant discount coupons and the local currency 'Bucheon Love Gift Certificate' will also be implemented in parallel.

The festival hubs will be deployed across three major areas centered around Subway Line 7: Sangdong Lake Park, Bucheon City Hall Lawn Plaza, and Bucheon Stadium. Bucheon Festa will operate seasonally as follows:

• Spring (March–May): 'Spring Flower Trip' (Wonmi Mountain Azalea Festival, Boksagol Arts Festival, etc.)
• Summer (July–August): 'Fantastic Adventure' (BIFAN, WE-JOY Chimeak Festival)
• Autumn (September–October): 'Autumn Chaos' (Bucheon International Cartoon Festival, etc.)
• Winter: 'Winter Romance' (Bucheon Ice World 'Bingpania')

Brand Expansion through a Step-by-Step Roadmap

Bucheon City will work to strengthen its city brand through the festival by leveraging its identity in the cartoon and film industries. Following an introductory phase through 2026 involving basic plan establishment and feasibility analysis, it will enter a growth phase through 2028, expanding visitors and participating shops. Ultimately, by 2030, the city plans to establish the festival as a representative event for the Gyeonggi region through brand expansion.