Namwon-si to Hold 'Cultural Heritage Night Tour' Festival Starting from the 30th

[Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-kwon] Namwon City, Jeonbuk Province, announced on the 28th that it will hold the ‘Namwon Cultural Heritage Night Tour’ festival from the 30th of this month to the 2nd of next month at Gwanghallu Garden and Yocheon Wolgung Square.

Hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration, Jeonbuk Province, and Namwon City, and organized by the Jirisan Seomjingang Cultural Heritage Utilization Project Group, the Cultural Heritage Night Tour was prepared to provide a differentiated nighttime cultural enjoyment opportunity by utilizing tangible and intangible cultural heritage and cultural facilities.

It is also a project aimed at playing a key role as a core local tourism resource and promoting medium- to long-term regional regeneration effects, and is a representative cultural heritage utilization contest project of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

This year marks the third Namwon Cultural Heritage Night Tour, which will recreate the Moon Palace, the founding story of Gwanghallu Garden, and based on the stories of Okhwangsangje, Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo, and the rabbit and the turtle, it will break away from the image of Namwon fixed as Chunhyang and unfold a new concept of nighttime cultural heritage exploration.

There are eight themes to enjoy at night (8夜), consisting of Night View (夜景), where visitors can view the night scenery of Gwanghallu Garden illuminated by landscape lighting; Night Road (夜路), where visitors can enjoy the Okhwangsangje parade; as well as Night History (夜史), Night Painting (夜畵), Night Storytelling (夜說), Night Market (夜市), Night Food (夜食), and Night Stay (夜宿).

The opening ceremony will be held at Wolgung Square on the Yocheon floodplain with the lantern lighting ceremony of Okhwangsangje and his entourage. There will also be a flea market run by local youth, Wolgung Tavern where visitors can enjoy night food, and performances of intangible cultural heritage by holders Inancho (Pansori), Kim Mugil (Geomungo), Song Hwaja (Gayageum), and the Namwon City Municipal Orchestra.

A fusion Nongak performance by a youth Nongak troupe is also prepared, raising expectations.

On the last day of the night tour, the 2nd of next month, a fireworks play from the 1970s will be recreated to revive the forgotten fireworks culture of the past.

For some programs, advance reservations are required, and tickets including experience kits and costume rentals are available for 10,000 KRW, which can be easily reserved through Naver Pay.

Namwon youth will also sell a package of Namwon specialty products, grown and made by themselves, for 20,000 KRW.

A city official said, “We hope that through the Namwon Cultural Heritage Night Tour, visitors will stroll through the Moon Palace of Gwanghallu Garden at night, feel the special night tour unique to Namwon, and return healed in body and mind. We expect to provide diverse and rich opportunities for cultural enjoyment in Namwon.”

Meanwhile, the 2022 Namwon Cultural Heritage Night Tour can also be experienced through the YouTube channel ‘Namwon Cultural Heritage Night Tour’ and the official website.

Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-kwon baekok@asiae.co.kr