Dongdaemun-gu Harvest Prayer '2023 Seonnong Daeje' Held

Dongdaemun-gu Holds ‘Seonnong Daeje’ at Seonnongdan Historical Park on the 22nd… Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung Serves as Chief Ritual Officer

- Time to Reflect on the Meaning of Seonnongje by Sharing 2,500 Servings of Traditional Seolleongtang and Reenacting the Traditional Seolleongtang Ceremony -

On the 22nd, the ‘2023 Seonnong Daeje’ was held around Seonnongdan Historical Park (Seoul Seonnongdan, Historic Site No. 436).

‘Seonnong Daeje’ had only held ritual ceremonies for the past three years due to COVID-19, but this year, with the lifting of social distancing measures, it was held more abundantly with various side events.

Starting at 9 a.m. with the Jeonhyangrye, where the incense and ritual documents used in the ceremony were passed from the Ahheon-gwan to the Dae-chuk, a royal procession continued from Exit 1 of Jegidong Station to Seonnongdan.

On this day, Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung took on the role of the king as the Chief Ritual Officer (Choheon-gwan), adding significance to the ceremony.

Following the tradition where the king performed rites at Seonnongdan and then personally plowed the fields at Jeonnong to mark the beginning of farming, and to honor the hard work of the people by slaughtering an ox and sharing Seolleongtang, a ‘Traditional Seolleongtang Reenactment’ event was held. Visitors shared 2,500 servings of Seolleongtang, taking time to reflect on the meaning of Seonnongje.

In addition, side events such as a children’s royal procession, Seonnongje rite experience, a classical poetry contest at Seonnongdan with Confucian scholars, and a children’s art contest were held.

Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung said, “By taking on the role of the king and performing the royal procession and rites, I tried to understand what the Joseon kings might have thought at this time. Since agriculture was the foundation of that era, they would have hoped for a good harvest and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the country. Reenacting the tradition of Seonnong Daeje today, I wished for the peace and happiness not only of Dongdaemun-gu but also of the Republic of Korea. I deeply thank Chairman Kim Hee-kyung of the Seonnongdan Preservation Society, the officials who prepared the ceremony, and all participants for their hard work. I hope today’s ceremony becomes a precious rite that moves the heavens and is protected by the earth,” he stated.