From Drone Shows to Healing Programs... Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival Held

Conducted at 9 Royal Tombs and Gyeonggijeon until the 16th of Next Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "We will operate the event to promote the historical value of the Joseon Royal Tombs and comfort the people tired from daily life."

The Cultural Heritage Administration's Office of Royal Tombs and Historic Sites and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation announced on the 20th that they will hold the "2022 Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival" to raise awareness of the value of the Joseon Royal Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At a press conference held at Han-guk-ui Jip in Jung-gu, Seoul, Jeong Seongjo, head of the Office of Royal Tombs and Historic Sites, explained, "The Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival, which started in 2020 and was held online for the first two editions due to COVID-19, will be held both online and offline this year."

The event will take place from the 23rd of this month to October 23rd in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Jeonju. This year's Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival is themed "Seeing Anew, Joseon Royal Tombs" and is composed of three main categories: performances, tours, and experiences. In the first phase, the festival will be held at nine royal tombs located in Seoul and the metropolitan area: Taegangneung, Donggureung, Hongyureung, Seonjeongneung, Heoninreung, Uireung, Seooreung, Yungeonneung, and Sejong Daewangneung, followed by events at Jeonju Gyeonggijeon.

The opening ceremony will be held on the 23rd at Taereung and Gangneung (Taegangneung) in Seoul. Highlights from this year's main performances, "Garden of the Gods" and "Novascopy 1437," will be unveiled.

"Novascopy 1437" is a performance named after the star first discovered using an astronomical instrument developed by Jang Yeongsil under King Sejong. Using 400 drones, a star map illuminating the night sky can be seen. "Garden of the Gods" can be experienced every weekend at Hongneung and Yureung (Namyangju), Seonneung and Jeongneung (Seoul), and Jeonju Gyeonggijeon. "Novascopy 1437" is available at Sejong Daewangneung (Yeoju).

The "Royal Tomb Concert," where visitors can enjoy traditional music along with the natural scenery of the royal tombs, will be held at Yungneung and Geonneung (Hwaseong), Sejong Daewangneung, and Seonjeongneung. The Yunggeonneung concert will feature Jeong Chorong, the runner-up of "Joseon Sori Pan," and the young gugak band "Nanda." The Seonjeongneung concert will showcase fusion gugak by "Eoks," the runner-up creative gugak group of "Pungnyu Daejang."

The tour programs consist of "Night Star Walk," "Royal Tomb Adventure," and "King's Forest Path Tree Stories." "Night Star Walk" is an interactive face-to-face program where participants can hear secret stories of the royal family. "Royal Tomb Adventure" is a program that applies an escape room game to the previously popular "Stamp Tour." Participants search for hidden clues around the royal tombs for 60 minutes and collect the Okse seal stamp to receive souvenirs. "King's Forest Path Tree Stories" is a program where visitors can take a walk through the forests of the Joseon Royal Tombs with a professional guide and listen to explanations.

Additionally, various experiential programs are available for families, friends, and couples visiting the royal tombs. "Royal Tomb Forest" offers diverse programs that highlight the characteristics of each royal tomb, including Hongyureung, Seonjeongneung, Seooreung, Donggureung, Taegangneung, and Sejong Daewangneung.

At Sejong Daewangneung, the "Sejong Story Pungnyu Room" allows visitors to learn about King Sejong's wisdom and knowledge while enjoying gugak performances. If overwhelmed by the numerous programs, visitors can receive personalized program recommendations through the "Find the Royal Tomb That Suits Me" feature on the Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival website.

Programs are also available for visitors who find it difficult to visit royal tombs in the metropolitan area. On October 22 and 23, "Royal Tombs on Wheels," which brings popular content from the Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival to local areas, will be held around Jeonju Gyeonggijeon.

All programs of the Joseon Royal Tombs Cultural Festival are free of charge. Some programs require advance reservations through Interpark and other platforms to participate.