Positive Reviews for Various Programs Reflecting the Spring of Yudalsan and the History of Naval Culture
A Spectacular Sight with the Timeless 'Manhohugun Expedition Parade'
Mokpo City in Jeollanam-do successfully concluded the 2024 Yudalsan Spring Festival, which gifted unforgettable memories to citizens and tourists at Yudalsan Mountain, where spring has arrived.
The city showcased ‘Spring, Naval Culture’ as the festival's core content, presenting a clear theme and a high-quality festival by widely promoting Mokpo’s naval culture to spring visitors enjoying the warm weather at Yudalsan.
According to the city on the 1st, the theme of this year’s Yudalsan Spring Festival was ‘Yi Sun-sin’s Choice, Nojeokbong,’ and the festival opened with a Manho Naval Expedition Parade fitting the theme.
The parade, which provided a spectacular sight with a Panokseon ship vehicle, was composed of 22 neighborhood resident participation groups, daycare centers, the Navy’s 3rd Fleet, Mokpo Maritime University, citizen and tourist participation groups, and the sports event promotion team.
The festival parade brought together the Joseon navy, the modern navy, and Mokpo citizens to embody Mokpo as the historical base of naval forces and created a timeless stage of harmony.
Additionally, the city’s sports council and others who participated added significance by wishing for the successful hosting of the 53rd National Youth Sports Festival and the 18th National Sports Festival for Students with Disabilities.
This year, the city strengthened programs related to naval culture and history to promote the naval culture.
Representative programs included the Manho Naval Expedition Parade, naval martial arts performances, naval military experience center, Manho Yi Sun-sin History Promotion Center, Yi Sun-sin Historic Site Pilgrimage Group, and the Love Nojeok Stack. These programs were highly praised by family tourists for providing not only enjoyment but also educational value.
Among them, the Love Nojeok Stack was a program directly related to the festival’s theme, based on the legend of Nojeokbong. Participants performed a stacking of nojeok (bundles of water plants) in front of Nojeokbong’s courtyard, accompanied by Manho naval martial arts performances, attracting much attention.
In the courtyard of Nojeokbong, a Daedongnori (traditional communal game) was held with citizens, where everyone held hands and moved together, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere filled with laughter.
This year, the city expanded the event area for the first time to include Gohado Island. The ‘Yi Sun-sin Historic Site Pilgrimage Group,’ operated by first-come, first-served pre-registration, promoted Mokpo’s excellent tourism resources by linking the Mokpo Marine Cable Car and Gohado Island.
Additionally, the Spring Flower Talk Concert featuring famous singers such as Choi Yuna, Jung Mi-ae, Shin Sung, and Seodo Band was held to enthusiastic responses, and various attractions and participation programs along the Yudalsan circular road left joyful memories for visitors.
The shuttle bus service, operated for the first time to accommodate visitors, also stood out. Due to construction issues making the use of nearby schools difficult as in previous years, the shuttle bus was operated. The city analyzed that this shuttle bus also allowed visitors to tour the Modern History and Culture Space, enhancing the promotion of tourism resources.
The spring flowers decorating the Yudalsan circular road delighted the hearts of spring visitors. Forsythia and magnolia heralded the spring atmosphere, and the cherry blossoms that continued to bloom throughout the festival made the event even more spectacular.
Mayor Park Hong-ryul said, “If the Yudalsan Spring Festival revitalized the local economy and provided citizens with even a little time for healing, there is nothing more to wish for,” adding, “A festival can only succeed when all citizens unite, and I thank everyone who came together with one heart for the festival’s success.”
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