"Eolsu~ Great!" Gossaum Nori, Shall We Play Joyfully?

Gwangju Nam-gu "Invites You to the Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] “We invite you to the 40th Jeongwol Daeboreum Gossaum Nori Festival.”

The Gossaum Nori Festival will be held for three days from March 3 to 5 at the Gossaum Nori Theme Park in Chilseok-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

According to Nam-gu on the 1st, the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Gossaum Nori Festival opens the door to February.

Nam-gu and the Gossaum Nori Preservation Society hold the festival every year around Jeongwol Daeboreum, except for years when emergencies such as COVID-19 and foot-and-mouth disease occurred, to inherit and develop Gossaum Nori, one of Korea’s representative folk games.

This year marks the 40th festival, filled with a variety of attractions.

On the first day, the 3rd, activities include kite-making and flying experiences, the forgotten Gonu competition, preliminary rounds of the national 5-person tug-of-war contest, traditional performance plays such as Beorna Nori and Lion Mask Dance, large flag play, Seoljanggo, and Sogo dance stages.

On the morning of the second day, invited performances will feature the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Tongyeong Ogwangdae Nori, tightrope walking, and Pansori, along with fusion gugak performances such as tap dance and Dancing Byeoljubu-jeon.

Also, from 6 p.m. on the same day, the traditional culture research group Eolsso’s ensemble drumming and lively Samulnori performances will begin, followed by the world music group Root Merge, gugak artist Kim San-ok, winner of the Joseon Fantasy, fire dancing, Daljip burning, fireworks, and Dangsan rituals in succession.

On the last day of the festival, which is Jeongwol Daeboreum, the 5th, fusion gugak group Taepyeonghan Sori and Gwangju City Intangible Cultural Property No. 18 Gayageum Byeongchang performer Hwang Seung-ok will take the stage, along with Daegu City Intangible Cultural Property No. 2 Nalmoe Bukchum and National Intangible Cultural Heritage Bukcheong Lion Play performances.

Additionally, as the highlight of the Gossaum Nori Festival, over 300 Gomelkkun and Juljabi will demonstrate the strong spirit of the Namdo region in a Gossaum Nori demonstration stage, while around the festival site, various experience events such as solo circus for children, bubble pang pang, and sand art will be held.

A Nam-gu official said, “We have prepared various stages to raise interest in Korea’s traditional culture, including Gossaum Nori,” and added, “We hope everyone enjoys the first weekend of February at the 40th Gossaum Nori Festival.”