Gyeongbuk Province, World Heritage... Yeongju Seonbi World Opening Ceremony on September 3
Andong Dosan World Confucian Seonbi Park & Korean Culture Theme Park Opening on 31st
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] As the saying goes, "The most Korean is the most global," K-POP, Squid Game, and other Korean Wave cultural contents have gained great love from people around the world, making us once again realize the infinite value contained in our culture.
Gyeongbuk Province is focusing above all on cultural value and is devoting great effort to maximizing value by reorganizing domestic tourism demand that emphasizes cultural enjoyment and the rising international status of Korean culture as tourism elements.
Accordingly, a culture tourism hub centered on experience is being established in the Andong and Yeongju areas, where visitors can enjoy Confucian culture and the spirit of Seonbi, which represent the region’s historical culture and are the most Korean content, learn Confucianism that forms the foundation of Korean life, and experience traditional culture reflecting the wisdom of ancestors through diverse themes.
The "World Confucian Seonbi Park," created in the Dosan-myeon area of Andong, is an international tourism hub for Confucian culture with a total project cost of 184.4 billion KRW, consisting of the Andong International Convention Center, the World Confucian Museum, and the Seonbi Pilgrimage Trail.
First, the Andong International Convention Center, with a total floor area of 28,430㎡ and two basement floors and two above-ground floors, is a complex facility capable of hosting large-scale international conferences, exhibitions, and events, including the World Confucian Culture Forum.
It is expected to serve not only as a forward base for the globalization of Confucian culture but also to contribute to the activation of the MICE industry in the province.
The World Confucian Museum located inside the International Convention Center is a facility where visitors can comprehensively view and experience traditional Confucian thought and modern Confucianism based on the Confucian ideas, lifestyle differences, historical changes, and current forms of Confucianism in Korea, China, and Japan.
In addition to a digital archive that compiles information on world Confucian culture, a media tower with four LED screens totaling 16 meters has been established, aiming to establish itself as a world Confucian culture information center beyond the simple functions of exhibition and information provision.
The Seonbi Pilgrimage Trail, a 91 km-long nature-friendly trail with 9 courses where visitors can enjoy the scenic views of Andong Lake and various Confucian cultural heritage sites, offers tourists a chance to walk slowly and enjoy healing time.
The Korean Culture Theme Park, a traditional amusement facility combining the software of Korean culture and the hardware of a theme park, was created in the Dosan-myeon area (near the World Confucian Seonbi Park) on a site of about 430,000㎡ with 41 buildings, with a total project cost of 135.5 billion KRW.
It faithfully reproduces the mountain fortress villages of the Gyeongbuk region around the 16th century Imjin War, including fortress walls, market streets, bell tower squares, military camps, and rural villages, allowing visitors to feel the unique old Korean scenery and atmosphere. Various spaces are also created where visitors can experience traditional food, traditional martial arts, and traditional games.
Also, through the Uibyeong Experience Center, inspired by the Battle of Jinju Fortress, visitors can enjoy a special experience of becoming righteous militia who fought against Japanese invaders, and watch video-converged performances based on classical folktales.
Seonbi World, located near the UNESCO World Heritage Sosu Seowon and Seonbi Village in Yeongju, is a traditional cultural experience facility themed on Joseon Dynasty scholars, where visitors can dress, eat, learn, and enjoy like Seonbi, broadly experiencing the spirit and life of Seonbi. It was created with a total project cost of 160.3 billion KRW.
Seonbi World consists of six themes?Hangeul, Hansik, Hanbok, Hanok, Hanji, and Korean music?offering various contents that reinterpret tradition in a modern way.
At the Hanok Culture Center, the room of a Joseon Dynasty Seonbi is recreated, allowing visitors to directly see and feel a Seonbi’s day, devoted to reading, contemplation, and education from dawn until bedtime.
At Hanbok Village, visitors can experience traditional clothing such as daily wear and gat (traditional hat) of Seonbi, and watch an 18-meter-long traditional automata puppet show depicting the growth of the protagonist Yeongju Doryeong into a true Seonbi.
Additionally, at Hanji Village, visitors can make hanji (traditional Korean paper), one of the four treasures of the study, using traditional manufacturing methods, and experience tea ceremony culture and etiquette enjoyed by Seonbi in charming hanok houses.
Andong World Confucian Seonbi Park and Korean Culture Theme Park will hold opening ceremonies on the 31st, and Yeongju Seonbi World will hold its opening ceremony on the 3rd of next month, officially welcoming tourists.
On the opening day, in addition to the opening ceremony, congratulatory performances by famous singers are prepared, and after the ceremony, various cultural performances including flea markets and parades will continue to captivate tourists.
Kim Sangcheol, Director of the Provincial Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said, “Gyeongbuk is the center of Confucian, Silla, and Gaya cultures and preserves the most Korean culture,” adding, “We will actively strive to develop content linked to Korea’s unique culture to become a historical and cultural tourist destination that captivates people worldwide.”
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