[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 16th that it will start this year's Saengsaeng Cultural Heritage Utilization Project by holding the 2nd Dokkaebi Festival at 11 a.m. on the 20th at the Seomjingang Dokkaebi Village.
The Saengsaeng Cultural Heritage Utilization Project is a Cultural Heritage Administration public contest project, and Gokseong-gun will carry it out from June to November. The program consists of exploring the historic sites of General Ma Cheonmok, a meritorious subject of the Joseon Dynasty located in Seokgok-myeon, and the Seomjingang Dokkaebi Trail.
Additionally, various programs are prepared, including visiting Dokkaebi Village to watch a puppet show about General Ma Cheonmok's Dokkaebi folklore.
The Dokkaebi Festival, held as the first program of this year, will feature pansori, Alphorn performances, Jwado Nongak (traditional farmers' music), and Dokkaebi Nanjang (Dokkaebi carnival). Also, this year, a special tea ceremony (darye) dedicated to General Ma Cheonmok has been prepared.
The Dokkaebi Village organizers explained, "General Ma Cheonmok annually presented sweetfish caught in Dokkaebi Trail as tribute to the king," adding, "To honor this, King Sejong ordered the local magistrates to offer sweetfish as sacrificial items during General Ma Cheonmok's memorial rites."
They further stated that the tea ceremony is also held to commemorate the 645th anniversary of the construction of Dokkaebi Trail this year.
Meanwhile, this year's Dokkaebi Festival will be held without indoor programs and with thorough quarantine measures due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.
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