Gwangju Gyeongjinwon Hosts 'Yangdong Keunjang Festival'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The Gwangju Economic Employment Promotion Agency and Seo-gu will hold the 'Yangdong Big Market Festival' from the 27th to the 29th.

The Yangdong Big Market Festival was planned as an event where citizens, social organizations, and merchants can participate to grow into a representative festival of the Yangdong Traditional Market commercial district and to revitalize the traditional market, which had been depressed due to COVID-19.

The opening ceremony held on the first day will be prepared as a ceremony created together by the merchant associations of the seven Yangdong markets, and it will be simplified to make the market merchants and citizens the main protagonists of the festival.

To commemorate and continue the spirit of May in Gwangju, a daily rice ball sharing event will be held throughout the festival period. At the opening ceremony, this will be announced through a rice ball performance, showing the history of May Gwangju and the Yangdong Traditional Market.

The creative opening play "Let's Go to the Provincial Government Office," which depicts the story of advancing toward the provincial government office with the power of Yangdong rice balls in May 1980 and the lively scenes of market merchants, and the "Yangdong Big Market Big Stage," featuring popular trot singers, will be held over three days. Performers such as Park Gu-yoon and Son Bin-ah will take the stage daily.

There will also be the "Seo-gu Culture and Arts Stage," a performance stage for singers in Seo-gu who had no opportunities to perform due to COVID-19, and the Yangdong Big Market 10-Minute Workshop and Nupjang Rest Area, planned and created by local youth, which are expected to infuse young sensibility and energy into the traditional market.

The "Wassguna Clearance Peddlers," led actively by the merchants of Yangdong Traditional Market, will also be set up, selling all items at affordable prices starting from at least 1,000 won, allowing visitors to enjoy the unique shopping charm of the traditional market.

In addition, various programs such as a tasting event for new menu developments prepared by young merchants of Yangdong Traditional Market, a vivid history exhibition of Yangdong Traditional Market, and live busking at Taepyeonggyo Bridge will be promoted to activate the event venue.

Director Park Sung-soo said, "This May coincides with the easing of social distancing, so we have prepared with more care than ever to be able to share it with many people," and added, "I hope it will be a precious opportunity to experience the unique joyful and lively atmosphere of the traditional market as well as the May Yangdong Market during the democratization movement."