Jeongeupsa Culture Festival Held on 28-29... Abundant Food and Attractions

Jeongeup City in Jeonbuk announced on the 23rd that it will hold the “34th Jeongeupsa Cultural Festival” at Jeongeupsa Park from the 28th to the 29th.

The Jeongeupsa Cultural Festival has been held for 34 years to preserve the historical and cultural value of “Jeongeupsa,” the oldest existing Baekje-era song, and to carry on the beautiful spirit of the Jeongeupsa woman, continuing the tradition.

Photos from the opening ceremony of the 33rd Jeongeupsa Cultural Festival.
[Photo by Jeongeup City]

This year’s festival will be even more enriched by holding a commemorative ceremony together with the 29th Citizens’ Day.

Jeongeupsa Park, where the festival takes place, is designed as a space that tells the story of Jeongeupsa so visitors can feel the festival’s theme of “A Thousand Years of Love.”

Based on the legend, the Mangbusang statue guards the park, and there are the Jeongeupsa Story Wall, Samojeong Pavilion, and Love Stairs, making it a great place for families and couples to create special memories.

The first day of the festival, the 28th, begins with the Chae-su ritual and the Jeongeupsa Woman Ceremony, which commemorate the Jeongeupsa woman and reflect on the meaning of marital and family love.

The Chae-su ritual is a ceremony of drawing clear spring water from Jeonghae Village, the setting of the Jeongeupsa narrative. The Woman Ceremony is a ritual form that soothes the heart of the Jeongeupsa woman who became a Mangbuseok (stone statue of a waiting wife) while waiting for her husband.

Following this, performances by the municipal art troupe, the commemorative ceremony, and celebratory performances will take place, culminating in the “Love Fantasy Show,” featuring fireworks and the Jeongeupsa performance.

The next day, the 29th, will be a stage for spectacular performances. First, the recording of KBS’s National Singing Contest, the longest-running popular entertainment program in Korea, will be held.

The city promoted hosting the National Singing Contest to enrich the festival and provide a cultural enjoyment space for citizens.

During the recording, 15 teams who passed the preliminary round will showcase their singing skills and talents. Performers such as Jo Hangjo, Kim Hyeyeon, Park Hyunbin, and Twin Girls will also appear, delivering lively performances.

Following this, the Jeongeupsa Song Festival, a gateway for new singers, will feature passionate performances by aspiring singers. Popular singers including Park Sangchul and Kim Taeyeon will also perform, brilliantly concluding the festival’s final day.

Additionally, during the festival period, booths selling agricultural specialties, snacks, and food will operate, various experience programs will be conducted, and beautiful landscape lighting will be exhibited throughout Jeongeupsa Cultural Park until the 12th of next month, providing abundant attractions for visitors.

Mayor Lee Haksoo said, “We have prepared the festival so that the devoted love of the Jeongeupsa woman from over 1,300 years ago can be conveyed to everyone,” adding, “I hope people visit Jeongeup in late October, when autumn is in full bloom, to feel the autumnal atmosphere.”

Jeongeup = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Jaegil baekok@asiae.co.kr