The 70th Gaecheon Arts Festival Opens Brightly with Jinju Citizens

Until the 14th at Jinju Fortress and Original Downtown... 'Safety Festival' as Top Priority

The 70th Gaecheon Arts Festival
[Image source=Jinju City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The 70th Gaekcheon Arts Festival, the origin of Korea's regional comprehensive arts festival, opened its curtain on the 7th at 6 p.m. at Chokseokru Pavilion in Jinju Fortress, starting with the Seoje and opening ceremony.

About 20 people, including Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il, Gaekcheon Arts Festival Organizing Committee Chairman Choi Tae-moon, City Council Chairman Lee Sang-young, and other officiating officials, attended the Seoje event marking the start of the Gaekcheon Arts Festival, proceeding in the order of lighting the sacred flame, ritual offering, enshrining the flame, and the opening ceremony.

With the slogan "Spread! Share! Embrace!", the Gaekcheon Arts Festival, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, has been held simultaneously with the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival every October, but this year it was postponed to November considering citizens' safety.

Fireworks, pungmul market, costume parade, and all-night festival, which were loved by many citizens, were canceled to minimize crowding of spectators.

Until the 14th, inside Jinju Fortress, the 'Jinju Fortress Time Travel' photo zone and costume experience themed on the Joseon Dynasty and modern history will be available, and the musical 'Chokseoksanseong Aria' themed on the Battle of Jinju will be performed on the special stage of the Imjin Battle Gyesa Sunui Dan. In the old downtown area, installation art using vacant stores, poetry exhibitions, and various art performances will be held.

Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il said, "This year's Gaekcheon Arts Festival will strictly comply with COVID-19 quarantine guidelines to ensure that citizens and tourists can enjoy the festival with peace of mind."