Gangseo-gu to Hold 'Heo Jun Intro Festival' at Heo Jun Neighborhood Park on the 5th

The 22nd 'Heo Jun Festival' Held at Seoul Botanical Garden on the 12th-13th

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon) will hold an intro festival marking the opening of the '2024 Heo Jun Festival' at Heo Jun Neighborhood Park at 2 PM on the 5th. The main event of the 22nd Heo Jun Festival will take place on the 12th and 13th of this month at the Seoul Botanical Garden.

The Heo Jun Festival is a representative festival of Gangseo-gu, where Heo Jun, the author of the Donguibogam, was born and conducted his literary activities. To emphasize the historical value and significance of Heo Jun, the district planned a meaningful pre-event around Heo Jun Neighborhood Park ahead of the main event.

The intro festival is composed of three themes: performances, experiences, and side events. At 2 PM on the 4th, the day before the festival, the Yangcheon Heo Clan Association and the Confucian scholars of the Hyanggyo will gather in front of the Heo Jun statue in Heo Jun Neighborhood Park to hold a ritual praying for the success of the Heo Jun Festival. On the same day, the Heo Jun Museum will host a special exhibition titled 'Gopdol Onshim' and a museum concert. Gopdol refers to a mineral used for boiling or roasting medicine.

On the festival day, the 5th, various pre-festival events will unfold, starting with a pungmul parade by the Gangseo Gugak Association, followed by a bubble show and a health concert with Oriental medicine doctor Lee Kwang-yeon. From 6:30 PM, the opening ceremony and the Heo Jun Intro Concert will be held. Performances by invited singers spanning generations, including Hong Jin-young, Lee Gyu-seok, Choi Chung-hyun, Jin Tae-jin, and Kim Hyun, are expected to elevate the festival atmosphere.

At the 'Heo Jun Healing Experience Center,' local residents will receive free detailed medical examinations using state-of-the-art medical equipment from specialists in orthopedics and ophthalmology. 'Find Heo Jun's Treasure' is a stamp tour exploring the Heo Jun Museum and the medicinal herb garden to find displayed treasures and herbs; participants who complete the tour will receive cotton candy. Magic and busking performances, face painting, and other activities will also be held for children participating in the festival.

The festival's unique and meaningful experiences include tasting Gangseo Makgeolli, brewed in Heo Jun's hometown, free herbal tea made with traditional medicinal herbs, and the Heo Jun Memory Caf?, where visitors can engage in counseling and experiences related to dementia awareness, enhancing the enjoyment of the event.

Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon said, “The Heo Jun Festival intro event is an important occasion to commemorate the historical value of Heo Jun and the traditions of Gangseo-gu. I hope it will be a time to reflect on Heo Jun’s achievements and enjoy various experiences and performances.”