'The Cradle of Gasa Literature' Youth Gasa Poetry Rap Contest to be Held in Damyang

July 6 Nationwide Rap Festival Held

Expectations for a Modern Reinterpretation of Lyric Literature

A rap competition for youth will be held in Damyang-gun, the birthplace of lyrical literature.

On the 27th, Jeonnam Damyang-gun (Governor Lee Byeong-no) announced that it will hold the "6th National Youth Lyrical Poem Rap Festival" on July 6.

The National Youth Lyrical Poem Rap Festival is organized to provide an opportunity where youth take the lead in combining lyrical poetry (Gasa), a representative genre of Korean literature from the Joseon Dynasty, with modern rhythms, creating a space where tradition and modernity harmonize.

The lyrics for the competition works will use pieces from the "18 Selected Damyang Gasa" available on the Korean Gasa Literature Museum website. Both lyrics and composition must be original creations.

Any youth aged 13 to 18 as of the application date can participate. Applications must be submitted by the 20th of next month by filling out the application form available on the Damyang-gun website under cultural events or on the Korean Gasa Literature Museum website and sending it via email.

When submitting the application, a video and lyrics must be attached together. Prize money includes 3 million KRW for the grand prize, 2 million KRW each for two excellence awards, 1 million KRW each for two merit awards, and 500,000 KRW each for four encouragement awards.

A county official said, "We hope for much interest and participation so that Gasa (lyrical poetry) can develop alongside rap music, which is familiar to youth," and added, "We will do our best to make this a festival where residents and the general public can enjoy Gasa culture together."