What specific hands-on activities can children participate in during the Jinhae Naval Academy Port Festival?

Children can have the opportunity to try on military uniforms and handle actual firearms. They can also experience carrying a 40-kilogram military pack and participate in a paintball shooting range where they can fire 7 rounds.

Are there any restrictions on photography when visiting the Jinhae Naval Academy?

Yes, as it is a military facility, there are many areas inside where photography is not permitted. Photography is strictly prohibited, especially during times when you are directly boarding and experiencing the naval vessels.

What special prizes can be obtained at the Jinhae Naval Academy experience event?

If you succeed in hanging for 2 minutes, you can receive naval merchandise and a dog tag with your name and date of birth. Naval-related merchandise is also provided as a gift upon successful completion of the breaking experience.

Jinhae Naval Academy: Kids' Navy Adventure for Families 2026

Jinhae Naval Academy: Kids' Navy Adventure for Families 2026 | TRVLOGUE

Our family recently embarked on a fantastic trip to Jinhae during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Everywhere we turned, the city was awash in the delicate pink and white hues of cherry blossoms, especially breathtaking along the scenic drive to the Naval Academy.

Cherry blossoms lining the road to Jinhae Naval Academy

Stepping inside the Jinhae Naval Academy, it quickly became clear why this was the absolute best spot for families with kids at the Cherry Blossom Festival. However, keep in mind that as an active military facility, many areas have strict no-photography rules. If capturing every moment on camera is a top priority, you might find some restrictions, but the experience itself more than makes up for it!

After parking at Pier 11 inside the Naval Academy, head towards where the warships are visible. You'll find various interactive experience booths set up by different naval units, ready for exploration!

There were also areas where visitors could get up close with actual equipment currently used by the navy. It was fascinating to see the tools and gear in person!

It's not every day you get to handle a real firearm, especially a sniper rifle! My kids were thrilled to look through the telescopic lens and see how far away objects appeared with such clarity.

Child looking through a sniper rifle scope

The kids even got to try on military uniforms! Dressing them up and snapping photos felt incredibly cool, turning them into mini-sailors for the day.

Next up was the UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) exhibit. Imagining what it would actually be like to be part of such an elite unit certainly gave us a unique feeling!

As expected, my boys were absolutely captivated by all the firearms and equipment on display.

Children interacting with military equipment

My second child also got to try on a military uniform, beaming with pride.

One of the most challenging activities was trying to lift and wear an ~88-pound (~40 kg) military backpack. Even many adults struggled to stand up with it on!

Man attempting to lift an 88-pound military backpack

A friendly person in a mascot costume kindly posed for photos with the kids, adding another fun memory to our day.

There was an exciting challenge where if a parent could hang for 2 minutes, they'd win various navy-themed merchandise and a custom dog tag engraved with their name and birthdate. With a little encouragement from a friendly sailor, my wife successfully completed it – moms truly are amazing!

Woman participating in a hanging challenge

We also tried the 'breakthrough' experience (a kind of martial arts board breaking), and successfully completing it earned us another piece of unique navy merchandise.

And for those who love a bit of action, there was a paintball target range where each person could fire 7 shots. Our whole family gave it a try, and it was a blast!

After exploring the booths, we had the chance to board and experience a real warship firsthand. Unfortunately, due to its status as a military facility, photography was strictly prohibited, so I don't have any pictures to share – and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to post them.

Temporary City Bus Route for Military Base Tours

Information on temporary city bus route for military base tours

Jinhae Naval Academy Event Information

On our way out, a quick search revealed that the Naval Academy also houses a museum! We learned that you can even experience a life-sized replica of the famous Turtle Ship (Geobukseon) there. So, we decided to head in that direction to continue our adventure, which I'll share more about in my next post!