Jeongeup-si to Hold Hwangtohyeon Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Ceremony on the 7th

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil] The 55th “Hwangtohyeon Donghak Peasant Revolution Commemoration Festival” will be held for two days from the 7th to the 8th at the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Park area.

According to the city on the 3rd, this commemoration festival is hosted by Jeongeup City and organized by the Donghak Peasant Revolution Succession Association, under the slogan “The Sky Then, Us Now.”

This event, prepared to honor the spirits of the Gap-o patriots and to inspire patriotism, will be conducted with various enjoyable activities and programs where visitors can experience traditional culture.

In line with May being Family Month, a variety of participatory programs have been prepared, including experience yards for the whole family, a flea market, youth drawing contests, and writing competitions.

Related programs include a joint presentation of intangible cultural heritage showcasing the excellence of Korea’s traditional arts, a creative pansori performance “General Nokdu Jeon Bong-jun,” and the Hwangtohyeon National Nongak Competition.

On the 7th, the commemoration festival will begin with a memorial service for the unknown Donghak Peasant Army, followed in the afternoon by the Gumin-sa Gap-o Patriotic Ceremony, the main commemorative ceremony, and celebratory performances.

The memorial service for the unknown Donghak Peasant Army will proceed with the creation of a bowl-shaped proclamation, reading of the reform proposals, offering of incense and flowers, reading of a memorial text, and flower offerings by attendees, commemorating the spirits of the unnamed peasant soldiers.

The Gumin-sa Gap-o Patriotic Ceremony will start with the chairman of the organizing committee offering a candle, followed by a solo ritual chant and offering of wine.

The ritual will have Kim Young-jin, chairman of the Succession Association, and Lee Jin-woo, vice chairman, serving as the outer and inner ritual officers respectively. Ju Young-chae, president of the National Donghak Peasant Revolution Bereaved Families Association, will perform the initial offering, a male immigrant from Ukraine will perform the secondary offering, and Kim Bong-seung, director, will perform the final offering.

The commemorative ceremony will begin with a joint thematic performance titled “Uprising” by 511 citizens, including local students and a nongak (traditional farmers’ music) group, followed by a reading of a proclamation, an awards ceremony, and screening of a thematic video.

Especially, to celebrate the first in-person event in three years, the ceremony will conclude with congratulatory performances by the folk singer “Urinara,” popular singers Min Kyung-hoon, Ailee, and Hong Jam-eon.

A city official said, “Since this is the first event held after the lifting of social distancing due to COVID-19, we have prepared a more meaningful event than any other year. We hope this commemoration festival will serve as an opportunity to reaffirm Jeongeup as the birthplace and sacred site of the Donghak Peasant Revolution.”

Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr