Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo Opens Sept. 22 for 41 Days, Marking 20th Year
The 2026 Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo opened on September 22 at Danghangpo Tourist Site in Goseong County, Gyeongnam Province, marking its 20th anniversary. First held in 2006, the dinosaur-themed festival runs for 41 days through November 1 this year, with a wave of new hands-on programs that let visitors move beyond simply looking at exhibits. This year the expo was also named to the 'Local 100' list selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and a regional culture promotion foundation, recognizing it again as a leading local cultural program.
At a glance: Danghangpo Tourist Site, 1116 Danghangman-ro, Hoehwa-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam · September 22-November 1, 2026 (41 days) · Weekdays 9am-6pm (last entry 5pm), weekends 9am-10pm (last entry 9pm) · Admission (on-site) adults (age 19-64) 19,000 won, children (36 months-18 years) 13,000 won · Inquiries +82-55-670-7400
At the large outdoor fossil-dig zone, set against the salty sea breeze drifting in from Danghang Bay, visitors can feel the gritty sand and the solid, ridged texture of the fossil replicas buried beneath it under their fingertips. New participatory corners this year include an art playground built along the coastal road and a giant dino puzzle, while a children's science zone co-produced with five national science museums and a special exhibition hall for toddlers give visitors of every age something to choose from. After dark, five new parade carts carry dinosaur characters across the grounds to music, and on Saturday nights the crack of fireworks fills the sky. Hungry visitors can grab a Brachiosaurus- or Tyrannosaurus-shaped dino bread, a festival snack sold since 2009, or soft-serve ice cream in a dinosaur-shaped cone.
For families traveling with children in the Gyeongnam region, the expo now offers a single-day itinerary that combines outdoor hands-on activities with an evening show. Closing time is extended to 10pm on weekends, so there's also room to linger over dinner before catching the night program. Two decades into the festival, its visitor guidance and facilities are also relatively well established.
