"Do You Know the Origin of Seolleongtang?"... Dongdaemun-gu to Hold 'Seonnong Daeje' on 19th-20th

At Seonnongdan History Park and Yongdu Park Area for Two Days

Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) announced on the 8th that the Dongdaemun Cultural Foundation (CEO Kim Kyung-wook) will host the ‘2024 Seonnong Daeje’ at Seonnongdan Historical Park and Yongdu Park from the 19th to the 20th of this month.

Seonnong Daeje is a state ritual in which the king personally paid respects to pray for a bountiful harvest for the year, and then performed the Chingyeong (a farming ritual conducted by the king to pray for a good harvest) in the Jeokjeon (the royal farmland where the king farmed with the farmers). This tradition has been maintained from the Silla period through the late Joseon Dynasty but was abolished during the Japanese colonial period.

The location of Joseon’s Jeokjeon is now Jeonnong-dong. Later, in 1979, the Seonnongdan Friendship Association (currently the Seonnongdan Preservation Committee), formed by residents of Jegi-dong, led the restoration, which has continued to this day.

Previously, Seonnong Daeje was held for one day around Seonnongdan Historical Park, but this year the event will be expanded to two days and take place in both Seonnongdan Historical Park and Yongdu Park.

On the 19th, the ‘Spring Breeze Seolleongseolleong Concert’ will be held at Yongdu Park as a celebration performance for Seonnong Daeje, featuring sorikkun (traditional Korean vocal performer) Shin Seung-tae and the jazz band Prelude. On the 20th, at Seonnongdan Historical Park, the event will begin with Jeonhyangrye, the ceremony of delivering incense and ritual documents used in the ancestral rites, followed by Seonnong Jehyang (ritual ceremony), ritual music, and Ilmu (a traditional Korean dance) performances.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, will serve as the Chohyeongwan (the chief officiant playing the role of the king) and conduct the ritual. After the ceremony, the royal procession reenacting the king’s return to the palace will proceed from Seonnongdan Historical Park to Yongdu Park with road closures.

Following the Chingyeong, in accordance with the tradition of slaughtering a cow to make meat soup and sharing it with the people, a Seolleongtang (ox bone soup) sharing event serving 2,500 portions will be held at Yongdu Park from 5 p.m. Afterwards, under the theme ‘Aemin Dongrak’ (Joy with the People), a lively traditional Korean performance featuring the highlight of Namsadang Nori, tightrope walking, as well as Pungut (traditional drumming), lion dance, and Ppaengpajeon (a type of Korean pancake) will take place.

Additional programs include night openings of Seonnongdan Historical Park and Seonnongdan History and Culture Center on the 19th, with cultural explanations related to Seonnong Daeje and traditional costume experiences. On the 20th at Yongdu Park, activities such as kimchi cube (kkakdugi) making for foreigners, traditional badge drawing, terrarium making, beonna experience, and face painting will be available.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “I hope many people will come to Seonnong Daeje, Dongdaemun-gu’s representative festival, to reflect on the meaning and value of our cultural heritage, share Seolleongtang, and create joyful memories.” Details about the event can be found on the Dongdaemun Cultural Foundation website and Instagram.