How to Enjoy the Gwanak Gang Gamchan Festival Twice as Much?

Instructor Choi Taeseong and Professor Seo Gyeongdeok Unravel the Story of Gang Gamchan... Solve Quizzes and Learn History
Night Gathering Touring Gang Gamchan's Birthplace and Seoul National University Observatory... Sessions Also Available for Foreigners

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) is recruiting participants for the main events of the 2024 Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival: the ‘Gang Gam-chan Talk Show & Quiz Show’ and the ‘Nakseongdae Night Star Viewing Party.’

The ‘Gang Gam-chan Talk Show’ & ‘Gang Gam-chan Quiz Show’ are part of the final ‘Gang Gam-chan Feast’ of the 2024 Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival, featuring Korean history star instructor Choi Tae-sung and Korean cultural promoter Professor Seo Kyung-duk.

First, the talk show will unfold the story of Gang Gam-chan, one of the three great national heroes who led the 26-year war against the Khitan to victory, bringing prosperity to Goryeo and peace to East Asia.

The district has also prepared a session where participants can submit questions in advance about the ‘Goryeo-Khitan War’ and the ‘Era of Peace after the War,’ some of which will be selected to be discussed on-site with the panel.

After the talk show, participants will become scholars taking the civil service examination of the past and compete in the quiz show testing their historical knowledge related to General Gang Gam-chan. Finalists who pass the preliminary OX quiz will participate in the Golden Bell round.

The talk show and quiz show will be held on the last day of the Gang Gam-chan Festival, October 13, from 1 PM to 4 PM at the main square of Nakseongdae Park.

Those wishing to participate can apply on the festival’s official website by October 6, and participation is free of charge. However, applicants must be able to attend both the talk show and quiz show programs.

The astronomy observation program ‘Nakseongdae Night Star Viewing Party,’ held in collaboration with the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Seoul National University, will be available every day during the three days of the festival.

‘Nakseongdae Night Star Viewing Party’ is an astronomy observatory history tour program that visits ▲Gang Gam-chan’s birthplace site ▲Anguksa Temple ▲Planetarium ▲Seoul National University Observatory, sharing the birth and achievements of General Gang Gam-chan.

In particular, this year the district has added sessions for foreigners, providing an opportunity to globally promote ‘Gwanak, the city embracing the history of Gang Gam-chan’ and ‘Seoul’s representative historical and cultural festival.’

‘Nakseongdae Night Star Viewing Party’ will be held once daily from 5 PM between October 11 and 13. Anyone from 4th grade elementary school and above can participate, and 25 participants per session will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis via the festival’s official website by October 6.

For inquiries about the Gang Gam-chan Talk Show & Quiz Show and the Nakseongdae Night Star Viewing Party, please contact the Festival Planning Team at the Gwanak Cultural Foundation.

District Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “The Gang Gam-chan Talk Show & Quiz Show and the Nakseongdae Night Star Viewing Party are programs that embody the identity of the Gang Gam-chan Festival,” adding, “We hope everyone takes this opportunity to deepen their historical and cultural knowledge while enjoying star gazing, doubling the enjoyment of the Gang Gam-chan Festival.”