Gurye-gun Hosts Yutnori Event Celebrating 50-Year-Old Baekjung Tradition

Over 300 Residents of Ganjeon-myeon Gather to Promote Unity and Fellowship

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] Ganjeon-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do (Myeonjang Kang Ssanghwan) announced that on the 12th, the "50th Baekjung Yutnori" event was successfully held at the Multipurpose Community Hall with about 300 residents attending.

This year's 50th Baekjung Yutnori event was hosted by the Ganjeon-myeon Village Chiefs Association (Chairman Lee Jaeho). Due to COVID-19, the event had not been held since 2019, but it was held again in 2022, attracting even more residents.

The Yutnori competition was divided into men's and women's individual matches. Throughout the event, residents enjoyed a warm and friendly atmosphere, showcasing their well-honed Yut skills on the mat, thoroughly relieving the physical and mental fatigue from farming work.

Lee Jaeho, chairman of the Village Chiefs Association, said, "This event served as a place for communication and harmony throughout the entire myeon, and I believe it was a meaningful event that can help our myeon develop further." He added, "We will do our best to inherit and develop the Baekjung Yutnori event so that it firmly establishes itself as a representative Baekjung cultural event of our hometown."

Meanwhile, Baekjung (百中), which falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, originates from Baekjong (百種), meaning "having all kinds of food."

This day marks the time when the 100 kinds of seeds sown in spring grow into various vegetables and fruits ready for harvest. In the past, farming households would serve food and alcohol to the farmhands and workers who had sweated all summer to give them a day off and comfort them. Depending on the region, it is said that collective games were played along with the Nongshinje (농신제, Farming God Festival).

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr