The 44th Miryang Baekjungnori Public Presentation and 2024 Baekjung Festival Successfully Concluded

The city of Miryang, Gyeongnam announced on the 19th that it held the "44th Miryang Baekjungnori Public Presentation and 2024 Baekjung Festival" at the Sammun-dong Outdoor Performance Hall area on the 17th.

This event was further enriched by the participation of the Sunchang Nongyo Geumgwadeulsori Preservation Society and the Jindo Buknori Park Kwan-yong Style Preservation Society, alongside the Miryang Baekjungnori performance.

The 'Miryang Baekjung Festival,' a traditional event enjoyed by many on Baekjung Day, concluded successfully.
[Image courtesy of Miryang City]

Baekjungnori originated as a festivity held around Baekjung (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month), about a month before Chuseok, after completing the most strenuous weeding work in rice farming. People would share drinks and food, spending the day in merriment.

Miryang Baekjungnori is characterized by various dances that express satire and humor toward the yangban class, helping people relieve their worries. In particular, the unique dance movements of the Obok Dance and Beombu Dance have been preserved only in Miryang. The performance of impromptu and special instruments such as Muljanggo and Sajanggo also adds a distinctive touch.

The 'Miryang Baekjung Festival,' enjoyed as one on Baekjung day, concludes successfully. [Image provided by Miryang City]

The event began with a ritual for a bountiful harvest and peace, starting with the Nongshinje ceremony, where a Nongshindae was erected in the center of the play area and participants bowed. This was followed by Sunchang Nongyo Geumgwadeulsori, which transformed the hardships of agricultural labor into joyful songs; Jindo Buknori Park Kwan-yong Style, which expressed the wisdom of agricultural culture through vibrant drumming; and Miryang Baekjungnori. At the end of the performances, performers and spectators came together for a grand celebration of unity.

Yu Mo (31), who watched the performance for the first time, said, "I never knew watching intangible cultural heritage performances from various regions could be this enjoyable. I lost track of time while enjoying the show. If there are more festivals featuring intangible cultural heritage in the future, I will definitely come to see them."

Mayor Ahn Byunggu of Miryang stated, "I hope that through the Miryang Baekjung Festival, citizens and visitors who are weary from daily life can come together and enjoy themselves, and that this will serve as an opportunity to understand and further develop the value of the precious intangible cultural heritage left by our ancestors."