Joseon Dynasty Royal Court and Sadaebu Cuisine?

[Seoul District News] Jongno-gu to Host ‘Royal Court and Sadaebu Family Traditional Food Festival’ on 27-28 at Unhyeongung, Seoul Historic Site No. 257 Designated as Heungseon Daewongun’s Residence & Opening Ceremony on 27th at 2 PM
Various Exhibitions, Experiences, Performances, and Tastings under the Theme ‘A Special Day of the Royal Court and Sadaebu Family, Haengcha (行次)’ ... Guro-gu to Hold ‘Guro Book Festival’ on 29th at Oryu Station Culture Park ... Yongsan-gu to Host Diverse Cultural Events at Yongsan Art Hall ... Gangbuk-gu on 29th from 3 to 9 PM

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Jeong Mun-heon) will hold the '2022 Royal Court and Yangban Family Traditional Food Festival' over two days on the 27th and 28th at Unhyeongung Palace.

This event, organized to promote and preserve the precious traditional Korean food culture unique to the nation, gains special significance as it is held at Unhyeongung Palace, the private residence of Heungseon Daewongun from the late Joseon Dynasty, which fully embodies the charm of traditional architecture.

Since 2004, Jongno-gu has been hosting a traditional food festival at Unhyeongung, designated as Seoul Historic Site No. 257, where visitors can vividly experience the lifestyles of kings and yangban families across the ages.

As this is the first event in three years to be held with citizens following the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th festival this year has adopted the theme ‘A Special Day of the Royal Court and Yangban Families, Haengcha (行次 - Royal Procession)’.

To introduce the procession foods of kings and yangban families from the Joseon era, the festival will feature exhibitions, hands-on experiences, stage events, and tastings, providing diverse ways to experience traditional culture.

The exhibition includes displays of procession foods reflecting King Jeongjo’s filial piety, the Onyang processions and foods of Kings Sejong and Sukjong, and stories of spring, summer, autumn, and winter outings enjoyed by yangban families.

Additionally, there will be lectures on traditional foods by Korea’s master food artisans, food-making sessions (rice cakes, dasik, Makgeolli), and traditional craft experiences such as making lucky pouch scented sachets, baessi headbands, and wrapping with bojagi cloth.

The opening ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on the 27th, attended by District Mayor Jeong Mun-heon, city councilors, district council members, and the Seoul Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs.

District Mayor Jeong Mun-heon said, “I hope everyone can fully appreciate the deep taste and charm of our traditional foods and culture, which are not easily accessible, and also enjoy the autumn atmosphere of Unhyeongung. We will prepare with utmost dedication so that the traditional food festival becomes an event enjoyed not only domestically but by people worldwide.”

Guro-gu (District Mayor Moon Heon-il) will hold the ‘Guro Book Festival’ on the 29th.

Guro-gu stated on the 24th, “To welcome the reading season, we are hosting a book festival to create a space where families and neighbors can read and enjoy books together. Since this is the first face-to-face festival in three years, we have prepared it abundantly.”

The ‘Guro Book Festival’ will be held at Oryu Station Culture Park under the slogan ‘Reading Guro! Dreaming Citizens!’

First, at 10 a.m., the ‘Gwageo (Civil Service Exam) Poetry Writing Contest’ will be held, recreating the Joseon Dynasty’s civil service examination. About 60 participants will wear traditional hats (yugeon) and sky-blue robes (dopo) and compete in writing skills using hanji paper and brushes. The contest is divided into elementary school and general categories, with the poem topics revealed on the day of the event. While the scholars compete in the yard, a calligraphy performance will take place on stage.

There will also be a ‘Family Reading Golden Bell’ quiz where elementary students and adult family members form teams of two to solve questions. A total of 50 teams will participate, answering questions related to four pre-announced selected books.

Visitors can also enjoy magic shows and the puppet play ‘Ggomji and Wang Kkotgunghong’ presented by the Seed Theater Company. Throughout the venue, there will be events such as photo opportunities with Avengers characters, photo zones to create memories, experience booths and promotional exhibitions by local libraries and reading clubs, and food stalls to enhance the festival’s excitement.

Prior to the festival, a preliminary event was held: the ‘Family Book Report Writing Contest,’ where families of two or more read books together and submitted reports. Entries were accepted from May 1 to October 15, targeting eight selected Guro books from this year and last year. Winners will be announced on the Wisdom Lighthouse website on the 25th, with awards presented on the festival day.

From May to November, a ‘Reading Marathon’ is also underway. Participants read a book suitable for their age, including one of this year’s Guro books, and complete a reading log matching the length of their chosen marathon course.

On the 22nd, an orchestra performance was held at Geulmaru Hanok Children’s Library. The Millennium Symphony Orchestra played for one hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., filling the library courtyard with melodies blending with the autumn atmosphere.

A Guro-gu official said, “We expect this festival to offer diverse ways to enjoy books and ask for the interest and participation of many residents.”

Welcoming the season of cultural performances, Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Park Hee-young) has prepared various cultural events at Yongsan Art Hall.

On the 25th at 7:30 p.m., the ‘16th Yongsan-gu Choir Regular Concert’ will be held at the Mir Grand Theater of Yongsan Art Hall. The concert aims to convey happiness and hope through choral music to residents who have endured the long COVID-19 pandemic.

The program features a variety of choral pieces including hymns singing peace and songs from the movie La La Land. Special performances by countertenor Jeong Min-ho and violinist Lee Seo-jin are also scheduled.

On the 27th at 11 a.m., the ‘Classic History Concert’ by the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra will take place at the Garam Small Theater of Yongsan Art Hall. The concert includes solo performances of violin, classical guitar, and vocal music, accompanied by conductor Seo Hoon’s commentary to help the audience better understand classical music.

This concert is part of the ‘2022 Performing Arts Venue Resident Group Development Support Project.’ The Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra is a resident group at Yongsan Art Hall and held its first performance in September.

At the Yongsan Art Hall exhibition hall, following the Yongsan Literature Invitation Poetry and Painting Exhibition from October 17 to 21, the ‘Yongsan Photographers Invitation Exhibition’ will be held from October 24 to 28. During this period, visitors can view about 100 works by members of the Korean Photographers Association Yongsan Branch.

All cultural performances held at Yongsan Art Hall are free of charge.

District Mayor Park Hee-young said, “On these deepening autumn days, visiting Yongsan Art Hall offers a chance to enjoy a variety of cultural performances from classical music to photo exhibitions,” and asked for residents’ active interest.

Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Lee Soon-hee) will fill the cool autumn night of the National April 19th Democratic Cemetery with music by hosting the ‘Autumn Night Music Festival’ on the 29th. The music festival will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the National April 19th Democratic Cemetery. Singers 10cm, Kim Yeon-woo, Yang Hee-eun, Woongsan Band, and Turtles have been invited, along with various side events.

The event is divided into two parts: Part 1, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., features outdoor cultural performances and interactive booths, and Part 2 is the music festival with invited singers.

Part 1 begins with the outdoor cultural performance ‘Sharing Autumn’ in collaboration with the Gangbuk Cultural Foundation. It will include 18 diverse music performances such as pop songs, opera, and classical music, followed by busking performances by local art teams.

At the same time, 22 experience booths operated by citizens and related organizations will be available. Visitors can enjoy various programs including tarot card reading, traditional martial arts (Taekkyeon) experience, dried flower ballpoint pen making, sign language learning, wooden ocarina making, natural dyeing and coloring, digital tattoo machine experience, face painting, and caricature drawing.

From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Part 2, the music festival, begins, hosted by former SBS announcer Kim Joo-hee.

Before the official program, Gangbuk resident singer Sung-ri will perform ballads, followed by creative pansori by Park Na-hyun, winner of the 3rd National Creative Pansori Contest, as the opening. The event will proceed with a moment of silence, a ritual dance, introduction of guests, and opening performance.

The main music festival starts at 6:30 p.m., beginning with the band Turtles, followed by 10cm, Woongsan Band, and Kim Yeon-woo, concluding with a song by Yang Hee-eun.

The district plans to deploy safety management personnel throughout the venue to respond to emergencies. White lighting will be installed along exit routes for the safety of departing attendees, and raincoats and lap blankets will be prepared considering rain and chilly late autumn nights.

District Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “It is meaningful to hold a music festival that citizens can enjoy together at the National April 19th Democratic Cemetery, a symbol of Korean democracy. I hope families, friends, and couples enjoy the performance under the cool autumn night sky and have a happy time.”

A special exhibition sharing the wisdom of ancestors who dreamed of health and longevity will be held for residents.

Seoul Gangseo-gu (District Mayor Kim Tae-woo) is hosting the special exhibition ‘The Scent of History Coming to Us: New Acquisitions Special Exhibition 2017?2022’ at the 3rd-floor planned exhibition hall of Heojun Museum until March 19 next year.

This exhibition draws attention as it showcases for the first time about 100 carefully selected artifacts from a total of 452 cases and 1,281 items acquired or donated by Heojun Museum over six years from 2017 to 2022. These include various medical books containing the medical knowledge of ancestors, medical instruments, and embroidered ten longevity symbols paintings.

The exhibition is organized into a prologue and four parts: Part 1 ‘Jeon-uigam (Royal Medical Office), Engaged in Medical Affairs,’ Part 2 ‘Wishing for Healing of Illness,’ Part 3 ‘Hoping for Health and Longevity,’ and Part 4 ‘Donation, Sharing History.’

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the ‘Donguibogam’ of Guam Heo Jun, a historical figure representing Gangseo-gu, acquired in 2018.

Various artifacts related to Jeon-uigam, official documents, medical instruments used in medicine preparation, post-Japanese colonial treatment medicines, paintings symbolizing health and longevity such as Baeksubaekbokdo and embroidered ten longevity symbols paintings are displayed, allowing visitors to indirectly experience the ancestors’ desire for a healthy life.

Easy-to-understand explanatory texts and visually stimulating video materials help visitors’ comprehension.

The exhibition-related experience program ‘Decorating Ten Longevity Symbols Tumbler Bags’ will also be held in the 3rd-floor lobby, enhancing enjoyment.

For more details about the exhibition, visit the Heojun Museum website (Homepage) under ‘Open Yard - Notices’ or contact by phone.

Heojun Museum Director Kim Kwe-jung said, “As a museum specializing in Korean medicine, Heojun Museum is making great efforts to become more established through continuous artifact collection and substantial exhibitions. Since this is the first time the museum is publicly displaying materials it has acquired and received as donations, we hope many visit and take this opportunity to reflect on the meaning of health and sharing.”

Geumcheon-gu (District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced it will hold the Geumha Village Light Festival ‘Capturing Light’ on November 4.

Organized by the Geumha Village Residents’ Council, the festival will take place from 3 p.m. on November 4 along Geumha Forest Road, the symbol of Geumha Village in Doksan-dong.

The approximately 330-meter-long Geumha Forest Road will be divided into three sections?past, present, and future?with lighting installations. The past section will feature cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lanterns) made of hanji paper, the present section will display recycled lanterns made with residents’ participation, and the future section will be decorated mainly with LED and neon lights.

Additionally, various programs such as resident experiences, food booths, and celebratory performances will be operated. The festival’s highlight, the ‘Light Lighting Ceremony,’ will be held around 6:20 p.m., and the illuminated Geumha Forest Light Road will be open for viewing until November 5.

Geumha Village has been implementing urban regeneration projects since 2019 under four themes: ‘Self-sustaining Village Together,’ ‘Energy Self-reliant Village,’ ‘Joyful Ecological Village,’ and ‘Comfortable Safe Village.’ Under resident leadership, projects such as building shared community facilities, supporting repairs of old houses, improving green environments, and expanding village entrances and exits have been carried out.

Geumcheon District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon expressed gratitude to the Geumha Village Residents’ Council and all residents for their wholehearted preparation and participation, and pledged to do his best to make Geumha Village a leading urban regeneration model.