Asan Mayor Park Kyung-gwi: "Differentiated Program to Inherit the Spirit of General Yi Sun-sin"

Asan City Enters Yi Sun-sin Festival Across Entire Area from 24th to 28th
"Creating a 4-No Festival with No Lost Children, No Trash, No Incidents or Accidents, and No Traffic Chaos"

For the citizens of Asan, Chungnam, and those born in Asan, April holds a special meaning every year.

This is because various events commemorating the birth of General Yi Sun-sin on April 28 fill the city annually.

Those who spent their childhood in Asan fondly recall the Yi Sun-sin birth commemoration drawing contest and writing competition held under the warm spring sunshine and lush greenery of Hyeonchungsa Shrine. They also unanimously remember that the entire city was filled with ‘Yi Sun-sin’ throughout the month of April, as various events were prepared and staged.

However, over time, there have been continuous criticisms that the festival has gradually lost its distinctiveness from other local governments’ Yi Sun-sin-themed festivals and has degenerated into merely being called the ‘Yi Sun-sin Festival’ in name only.

After the launch of the 8th elected administration, Asan City declared that it would review everything about the festival from scratch, except for the name ‘Yi Sun-sin.’ As a result, last year’s festival introduced various new programs such as the Military Band Festival and the Baekuijonggun-gil Walking and Marathon Competition, attracting 270,000 visitors over three days.

Buoyed by last year’s success, Asan City has prepared an even richer program this year to carry on the spirit of Yi Sun-sin.

There are more than ten Yi Sun-sin-themed festivals nationwide. However, most of these festivals commemorate the areas where General Yi Sun-sin achieved continuous victories during the Imjin War. Similarly, for decades, Asan City’s festival has mainly consisted of popular programs celebrating and commemorating the general’s birth.

Mayor Park Kyung-gwi stated, “While other festivals lack special research beyond the actual battles the general fought, our city is one that can illuminate the entire human Yi Sun-sin?from his dreams and growth as a military man to his final rest.” He added, “We are differentiating ourselves not only from other festivals but also from the existing Yi Sun-sin festivals held in Asan by highlighting the general’s entire life and inheriting his spirit through diverse programs.”

This year’s festival transforms the entire city of Asan into a festival ground to focus on the human Yi Sun-sin.

Mayor Park said, “In planning the new festival, we applied the ‘Yi Sun-sin’ concept to all programs. Representative programs embodying the spirit of Yi Sun-sin include the Military Band and Honor Guard Festival with 14 teams participating, including the Ministry of National Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and the US 8th Army; the Baekuijonggun-gil Walking and Marathon Competition; the Samdosuguntongjesa Flag Raising Ceremony; the World Taekwondo Federation’s ‘Pilsa Jeuksaeng Pilsaeng Jeuksa’; the ‘Hakikjin Street Dance’ by One Million and Just Jerk; and the Yi Sun-sin Hymn by the National Gugak Center.”

He continued, “Various programs honoring the general’s spirit will be held at all places in the region imbued with his spirit, such as Chungmugong’s tomb, Hyeonchungsa Shrine, and Gebawi Rock, where his mother was brought when she passed away, so that the entire city of Asan will be imbued with Yi Sun-sin’s spirit.”

This year, the festival is expected to be even richer with diverse programs.

Mayor Park said, “To reestablish the city’s status as the city of Yi Sun-sin, we will newly present the creative pansori ‘Yi Sun-sin-ga’ by master singer Lee Bong-geun, and the Asan City Choir’s ‘Nanjung Ilgi Cantata,’ which received great acclaim last year, will be newly presented as a musical. We have also prepared an experiential program where participants can make and fly the ‘Tactical Kite’ used by the general during the Imjin War, and, with the cooperation of Tongyeong City, the first Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin Rowing Competition will be held at Gokgyocheon.”

With the festival just a day away, the city is putting all its efforts into ensuring a festival without a single safety accident.

Mayor Park Kyung-gwi said, “This festival is one that can illuminate all aspects of the general through cultural and artistic performances, experiences, and exhibitions. It is prepared as a festival where people can learn the spirit of General Yi Sun-sin and see a new side of the human Yi Sun-sin.”

He added, “Last year, we self-evaluated the festival as a ‘three-no festival’ with no lost children, no trash, and no incidents or accidents. This year, in addition to that, we will create a ‘four-no festival’ with no traffic chaos by deploying temporary parking lots that can accommodate about 10,000 vehicles and shuttle buses that tightly connect all festival sites. We hope many people will visit.”