Opening on the 26th... Over 500 River Activists Attend
Colorful Events Including 5 Major Rivers Confluence Ceremony and Native Fish Release
The 23rd Korea River Day Gokseong Festival, the first river culture festival on the Seomjin River, was successfully held on the 26th in Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Acting County Governor Lee Gwidong).
Marking its 23rd year, the 'Korea River Day' event is a nationwide representative private academic conference co-hosted by the Korea River Restoration Network (CEO Lee Jungyeong) and the Pureun Gokseong 21 Practice Council (CEO Park Jeongsu), supported by Jeollanam-do and Gokseong-gun. It aims to open a sustainable future for rivers through love for rivers and streams.
Gokseong-gun (Acting County Governor Lee Gwi-dong) successfully held the '23rd Korea River Day Gokseong Festival,' the first river culture festival on the Seomjin River, on the 26th. The photo shows the opening ceremony of Gokseong River Day. [Photo by Gokseong-gun]
The event, held over 2 nights and 3 days from the 26th to the 28th, gathered about 500 river activists and tourists nationwide, marking the start of the 'Korea River Day' with the confluence ceremony of the five major rivers and the release of native fish species.
The opening ceremony was a place of communication and harmony, featuring performances by local residents such as the ‘Sunlit Gokseong Dream Ripening Seomjin River Children’s Songs and Yodel Club’ and the ‘Daehwanggang Ajimdeul Janggu Nanta’.
On the first day, the 26th, the ‘Seomjin River Unique History and Culture Seminar Special Session’ to learn about the history and culture of the Seomjin River, the ‘Korea-China-Japan International River Forum’ themed on the river of life, and the ‘Gokseong River Day Seomjin River Forum’ were held. A screening of the short film ‘Nineteen Seomjin River,’ depicting the journey of teenagers along the Seomjin River, and cultural events with local residents also took place.
On the 27th, the preliminary round of the ‘River Restoration Best Practices Contest’ was held, along with a Gokseong ecological culture tour including Seomjin River Train Village, Chimshil Wetland, Yongsandan, and Taeansa Temple, busking performances, and a talent show by environmental activists, offering a variety of programs.
On the 28th, the event concluded with the ‘River Restoration Final Contest’ and a ‘Marketplace Experience,’ wrapping up the three-day journey.
Additionally, during the event, the ‘Korea River of Life Photo Exhibition’ and promotional and experience booths involving river activists and Gokseong residents were operated, providing visitors with various sights and hands-on opportunities.
Gokseong-gun and the organizers arranged advance reservations for rural experience villages, guesthouses, and pensions to provide comfortable and cozy accommodations for participants staying in the area during the event. They also signed MOUs with local restaurants to ensure a friendly welcome for guests.
Acting County Governor Lee Gwidong said, “I am very honored to host this representative river culture festival in Gokseong, and together with everyone who wants to protect the Seomjin River, we will create a beautiful and sustainable future living in harmony with nature.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
