'2023 Dobong Mountain Festival' Held

Dobong-gu to Hold the 11th Dobong Lantern Festival Lighting Ceremony at Dobong Peace Culture Base on October 28... Outdoor Light Sculpture Exhibition to Run from October 26 to November 5 at Dobong Peace Culture Base During the Festival

The Dobong Lantern Festival, now in its 11th year, has returned, imbued with the scent of culture and art beneath the beautiful natural environment of Dobongsan.

Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) announced that the "2023 Dobong Lantern Festival" will be held for 11 days from October 26 to November 5 around the Peace Cultural Base in Dobong-gu.

Held annually with new concepts and programs, the Dobong Lantern Festival has continuously received warm love from residents since its first event in 2013.

This year’s festival is planned as a harmonious event involving local artists, students from schools in and near Dobong-gu. It will feature a variety of cultural and artistic performances including a congratulatory performance by the Dobong-gu Office breaking team, as well as music, magic, and bubble shows by local art groups. The programs are designed for all residents visiting the festival to enjoy.

The main event on the 28th at the Dobong-gu Peace Cultural Base will be divided into two parts. From 2 PM, the first part will feature busking performances by local artists and a special performance by the Dobong-gu Symphony Orchestra themed as a masquerade ball. Following this, the second part will begin around 6 PM with a lighting ceremony timed with sunset.

Afterwards, the festival’s excitement will be heightened by a congratulatory performance from the Dobong-gu Office breaking team, which includes Kim Hong-ryeol, the silver medalist at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. This will be followed by a special fashion show program of the Dobong Lantern Festival.

The fashion show will present new cultural content unique to the Dobong Lantern Festival under the theme "Peace: Continuing," featuring designer Lee Seung-ik of Starcica, Seguru Fashion Design High School, Duksung Women’s University, and Seokyeong University, all wishing for peace on the Korean Peninsula. The finale will be a special moment with Mayor Oh Eon-seok walking the runway alongside residents.

The event will conclude with performances by singer Baek Ji-young, Crying Nut, Mr. Trot 2’s Seong-ri, and Jeon Mi-kyung.

Additionally, from October 26 to November 5 during the festival period, an outdoor light sculpture exhibition featuring about 20 young artists will be held on the lawn square of the Peace Cultural Base. The square will be filled with various lantern displays including Dobong-gu’s representative animation character Dooly, as well as unique day and night sculptures by young artists expressing themes of nature, love, and peace.

Mayor Oh Eon-seok of Dobong-gu said, “The Dobong Lantern Festival, with its 11-year history, has given us special emotions and memories. This year’s festival is also prepared with diverse performances and programs that the whole family can enjoy, so I hope many people visit and take home precious memories.”