‘Hyogok Yutnori Festival’ Held … A Place of Harmony in Hyogok-dong, Pohang City

The 29th Hyogok Yutnori Festival, a gathering for harmony among the residents of Hyogok-dong, Pohang City, was successfully held on the 1st at the public parking lot of Jungang Hyoja Market.

The 29th Hyogok Yutnori Festival. (From left: Park Yong-jun, Head of POSCO Energy Department; Lee Jong-sook, Chairperson; Cheon Jeong-woo, Executive Director of Shinhan Credit Union; Lee Sang-hae, Saemaul Chairman; Park Hee-jung, Chair of the City Council's Autonomous Administration Committee; Kim Hyung-cheol, Chair of the Welfare and Environment Committee; Son Hee-kwon, Provincial Assembly Member; Ahn Seung-do, Nam-gu District Mayor; Kim Byung-rok, Chairman; Lee Jae-gyu, Council Chairman; Kim Dong-cheol, Chief of Hyogok Daiji District Police Station; Jo Yong-mal, Chairman of Hyogok-dong Council; Cheon Hye-nyeong, Saemaul Women's Association Chairwoman)

This festival was last held in 2019 and was not held due to COVID-19, but it was held this year thanks to the long-standing support of the residents of Hyogok-dong.

Organized by the Saemaeul Leaders Hyogok-dong Council (President Jo Yongmal) and the Saemaeul Women's Association (President Cheon Hyenyeong), the event was attended by more than 30 heads of organizations including Ahn Seungdo, Nam-gu District Mayor, POSCO Energy Manager, Hyogok Daiji Police Precinct Chief, Hyoja 119 Safety Center Chief, and Pohang Saemaeul Association President, along with about 500 residents from senior centers and self-governing organizations.

Before the main event, various local organizations such as provincial and city council members and the chairman of the Hyogok-dong Development Advisory Committee visited the Jeonhui Hyoja Monument and the Cheongam Park Taejoon Statue in succession to perform a Pungsinje ritual praying for the development of Hyogok-dong.

During the opening ceremony, a cheering performance stood out to achieve the goals of establishing the "Pohang Research-Oriented Medical School" and a hospital for "training physician-scientists," in collaboration with Gyeongbuk Province, Pohang City, and POSTECH.

The event included a Yutnori competition freely participated in by local residents, a quiz contest titled "Ring the Golden Bell in the Advanced Valley" related to Hyogok-dong’s history and advanced science and technology such as the bio-industry, a talent donation festival featuring calligraphy, balloon art, hapkido performances, singing contests, and invited singer performances.

Park Jaemin, head of Hyogok-dong, said, “It was a very meaningful festival as it provided a place for local residents to communicate and come together in harmony. I am pleased that the festival, held after a long time, was successfully conducted, and I will continue to hold events that foster harmony among the residents.”