'Uiryeong Sinbeon Culture Festival' Gathers Over 2,000 People... Beautiful and Brilliant

The First Festival Combining Uiryeong Hanji Festival and Gayageum Competition

Gayageum performers are taking a commemorative photo at the Uiryeong Sinbun Cultural Festival held in Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Wook] The ‘Uiryeong Shinbeon Cultural Festival,’ held from September 30 to October 2 to promote and preserve the brilliant and beautiful world conveyed by Gayageum and Hanji, concluded successfully in Burim-myeon, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam.

The newly combined 1st Uiryeong Shinbeon Cultural Festival, merging the Uiryeong Hanji Festival and the Gayageum Competition, took place over three days starting with the opening ceremony on September 30. On that day, more than 2,000 people including residents, hometown visitors, and tourists gathered at the public parking lot of Shinban Market in Burim-myeon. Especially, the pride of Burim-myeon residents reached its peak during this festival, showing great pride in continuing the history and tradition of Gayageum and Hanji in a small village of Uiryeong-gun.

At the opening ceremony, a video embodying the festival theme “Hanji blooming with the melody of Gayageum” was screened, and the festival was inaugurated with a fusion gugak performance by the Biseul Dance Troupe, wishing for a festival that harmonizes tradition and modernity.

County Governor Oh Tae-wan said in his opening remarks, “Uiryeong-gun is the birthplace of the Gayageum master Ureuk and the home of traditional Hanji. I hope this festival becomes a place where people can feel the melody of Gayageum by Master Ureuk and experience the excellence of Hanji.”

Key guests including Kim Gyu-chan, Chairman of the Uiryeong County Council, Kwon Won-man, Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Assembly member, and Kim Chang-ho, local district assembly member, attended the event to celebrate the opening of the Shinbeon Cultural Festival.

During the three-day 2022 Shinbeon Cultural Festival, many tourists from Ulsan, Miryang, Daegu, and other areas visited. Particularly, the traditional Hanji making demonstration by Shin Hyun-se, a holder of the national intangible cultural asset, attracted 500 tourists, becoming a major highlight.

Family visitors enjoyed making Hanji kites, paper flowers, lanterns, phone stands, and pencil holders through hands-on experience programs, spending joyful moments together.

Additionally, various performances such as the Shinbeon Champions League, youth cultural performances, and comic bubble events, along with folk game experiences at the permanent experience center and air bounce activities, were popular play programs that children enjoyed.

The National Gayageum Competition was held over two days from October 1 to 2 at the Uiryeong Youth Training Center, featuring intense contests in two categories: Gayageum instrumental music and Byeongchang (singing while playing Gayageum). A total of 98 teams participated, showcasing their skills through the competition. In the general division, Lee Yun-seo won the Ureuk Grand Prize awarded by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In the student division, An Ji-soo from the university division, Lee Mi-so from the high school division, Kim Tae-wan from the middle school division, and Won So-hyun from the elementary division each received the grand prize awarded by the governor and the superintendent of education.