Jongno Cultural Heritage Night Tour 'From Cheongwadae to Seochon' Held

[Seoul District News] Jongno-gu Operates Cheongwadae and Seochon Exploration Program on 28-29 & Hosts Cultural Heritage Night at Cheongwadae Fully Opened After 74 Years with Small Performance on Gyeongbokgung Rear Garden & Applications via Naver Reservation from 20-22 & Presents Walking Program Modernly Reinterpreting Joseon Middle-Class Life in Seochon Area ... Mapo-gu Hosts Art Market in Hongdae, the Center of Youth and Culture, from 21-23

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As autumn deepens, a time has been prepared to enjoy the night atmosphere under the serene moonlight while appreciating the long history and culture of Jongno.

Jongno-gu (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) will hold the Jongno Cultural Heritage Night Tour "From Cheongwadae to Seochon" on the 28th and 29th.

The event is designed as an opportunity to walk through jewel-like locations throughout Jongno, the home of Korean (Han) culture, and enjoy unique exhibitions and performances enhanced with storytelling.

First, the cultural heritage night tour program ▲Cheongwadae, On a Starry Night, which is being attempted for the first time against the backdrop of Cheongwadae, opened to the public for the first time in 74 years, focuses on the historical significance of the former rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Participants will feel as if they have traveled back in time to the Joseon Dynasty and become guests invited to the rear garden, enjoying the splendid night scenery of Cheongwadae.

Starting with the gate-opening ceremony by the royal guards at 6:30 PM, visitors will tour the main building and enjoy a classical music performance imbued with elegant charm at Sojeongwon. Then, they will experience the media art exhibition at Sangchunjae, attempted for the first time within the premises, enjoy a traditional Korean music performance at Chimnyugak, and finally taste warm traditional tea at the helipad while watching a performance that tells stories about the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The Cheongwadae night tour will recruit a total of 400 participants, 50 per session. Applications can be made through Naver Reservation from October 20 to 22, and the event is free of charge. The district will select participants by lottery and announce the results on the district office website on the 24th.

Meanwhile, in Seochon, a different night tour titled "The Western Village Next to Gyeongbokgung Palace" will be presented, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of the middle-class (jungin) during the mid-Joseon period.

While Bukchon symbolizes the life and culture of the Joseon aristocracy (yangban), Seochon was a neighborhood where jungin such as interpreters, medical practitioners, and artists lived together. Notable figures such as the painter Gyeomjae Jeong Seon, calligrapher Chusa Kim Jeonghui, modern artist Lee Jung-seop, poet Yun Dong-ju, and Lee Sang all carried out their creative activities here.

Jongno-gu has prepared a walking program that modernly reinterprets the lifestyle of the jungin of that time. From 6 PM, visitors can enjoy various performances including brass band and fusion gugak (traditional Korean music) around the pavilion area of Tongin Market.

At the Jongno-gu Park Nosu Art Museum, visitors can deepen their appreciation of the museum’s atmosphere through media art and daegeum (bamboo flute) performances. The Seochon night tour is open to everyone without prior application.

District Mayor Jeong Munheon said, “It will be an unforgettable time to enjoy autumn romance and encounter Jongno’s diverse culture and arts,” adding, “We ask for much interest in this night tour program held at Cheongwadae, which has been fully opened to citizens for the first time in 74 years, and Seochon, the cultural center of the jungin during the Joseon Dynasty.”

Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Gang-su) will hold the "2022 5th Mapo Art Fair," a cultural and artistic promotion project targeting the MZ generation who have actively started consuming art, from October 21 to 23 for three days at Hongdae (Gyeongui Line Book Street), a symbol of art and youth.

Since August, the district has publicly recruited participating artists and carefully selected 140 artworks by 50 artists based on artistic quality and value.

In particular, by selecting more works from emerging artists than established ones, this art fair is expected to serve as a foothold to support the growth and promotion of emerging artists.

Now in its fifth year, the Mapo Art Fair will hold various cultural events daily during the event period, including art experience programs, cultural performances, and exhibitions, providing visitors to Hongdae with closer access to art.

A newly participating emerging artist said, “Emerging artists have difficulty exhibiting and promoting their works, so it has been tough,” adding, “Thanks to the district organizing the art fair, I now have an opportunity to introduce the works I have created to the public,” expressing joy.

The district expects that direct transactions of artworks at this art fair will create a win-win situation where buyers can purchase desired works more economically, and sellers receive the full amount without paying intermediary fees.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “The scale of the Korean art market is approaching the 10 trillion won era,” and added, “As a symbol of youth and culture and arts, Mapo-gu will spare no administrative support to contribute to the promotion of culture and arts in the future.”