Gimhae City, 2nd Nammyung Cultural Festival... "Gaya Royal City Expressed Through Art"

Colorful Performances, Academic, and Exhibition Events on the 24th-25th

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] Gimhae City in Gyeongnam announced on the 22nd that the 2nd Gimhae Nammyung Cultural Festival will be held starting with the 1st National Nammyung Children's Creative Song Festival on the 24th at Jangyu Daecheong Central Park, Gimhae Culture and Arts Center Yunsul Art Museum, and Gimhae Hyanggyo to inherit and develop the Nammyung spiritual culture.

This event will be held under the theme of "The 2nd Gimhae Nammyung Cultural Festival," a Gaya royal capital expressed through art, and will feature a diverse lineup including creative performances, citizen participation art events, academic conferences, and calligraphy and painting exhibitions.

On the 24th and 25th, various outdoor events including the Nammyung Photo Zone and the opening ceremony will take place at Jangyu Daecheong Central Park. Citizen-led events such as the creative performance madanggeuk (traditional Korean play) "Sword of Respect," a living arts festival, and a youth festival will be held, all based on Nammyung's philosophy.

As an exhibition event, from the 26th to November 1st, a special invitational exhibition of Nammyung calligraphy and paintings featuring Nammyung's sijo (Korean traditional poetry) will be held in the 3rd exhibition hall of the Yunsul Art Museum at Gimhae Culture and Arts Center.

On the 29th, an academic event will be held at Gimhae Hyanggyo on three topics including "The Regional Characteristics of Gimhae in the Poetry and Writings of Nammyung Jo Sik," where in-depth understanding of Nammyung is expected through discussions.

Mayor Heo Seong-gon of Gimhae said, "I find it very meaningful that an event inheriting Nammyung's philosophy is being held in Gimhae, where Sanhaejeong, where Nammyung Jo Sik taught his disciples, is located," and emphasized, "In modern society where spiritual values are neglected, I hope that Nammyung's philosophy, which holds great significance, will be widely conveyed to citizens and serve as an opportunity to reflect once again on the value of tradition."

Meanwhile, Nammyung Jo Sik was a representative Neo-Confucian scholar of Gyeongsang Province alongside Toegye Yi Hwang. His scholar spirit, which respects and practices righteousness (義) and reverence (敬), inspired many disciples and gave rise to the Nammyung school of thought. As a private intellectual who emphasized practice, his philosophy was carried on through militia activities during the Imjin War, and his various memorials still remain as exemplary models of sincere advice.