Gochang-gun to Hold 'Ogeori Dangsanje' at Jungang Dangsang Area on the 23rd

The Gochang-gun Ogori Dangsanje Preservation Society (President Go Bok-hwan) in Jeonbuk announced on the 16th that it will hold the "43rd Gochang Ogori Dangsanje Festival" on the 23rd around the central Dangsang area in the town to pray for the well-being, health, and bountiful harvest of residents by honoring the village ancestors and guardian deities.

Poster for the 43rd Gochang Ogori Dangsanje Festival.
[Photo by Gochang County]

The Gochang Ogori Dangsanje Festival is held from Seol, the Korean Lunar New Year, to Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, with rituals at the Dangsang that protects the four corners of Gochang-eup?east, west, south, and north?on the third day (February 12) and the eighth day (February 17) of the first lunar month.

The Dangsanje is a regional traditional cultural festival where about 300 county residents gather on the eve of Jeongwol Daeboreum at the central Dangsang located in the center of Gochang-eup to pray for the village’s fortune and pass down the identity of Gochang people through various traditional cultural events.

President Go Bok-hwan stated, “We will encourage many residents to participate through various experiential activities such as Daedongnori (community play) for the unity of county residents, making wish tags for tourists, jegichagi (a traditional Korean shuttlecock kicking game), and free rice cake sharing.”

Currently, the Gochang Ogori Dangsang won the Presidential Award at the 47th Korean Folk Arts Festival in 2006. It is designated as National Folk Cultural Property No. 14, and the Gochang Ogori Dangsanje Preservation Society is designated as Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Intangible Cultural Property No. 37. They are currently striving to register it as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

County Governor Shim Deok-seop said, “I sincerely thank the members of the Gochang Ogori Dangsanje Preservation Society who are passionately working to preserve the Gochang Ogori Dangsang on the occasion of the Gapjin Year Jeongwol Daeboreum,” and added, “I hope that through this Gochang Ogori Dangsanje Festival, the wishes and hopes of the people of Gochang-gun will all come true this year.”

Gochang = Kim Jae-gil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr