Paju City Successfully Hosts the 8th Paju Mok Bonghwang Festival

A Joyful Festival Where Tradition is Preserved and Residents Come Together

The "2024 8th Paju-mok Bonghwang Festival," which commemorates the long history and culture of Paju-mok in Gyeonggi Province, was held successfully on the 16th at Paju Hyanggyo and the Cultural and Sports Center, with over 1,000 residents attending, the organizers announced on the 18th.

The "8th Paju Mok Bonghwang Festival 2024" was successfully held on the 16th at Paju Hyanggyo and the Cultural and Sports Center area, with over 1,000 residents attending. Photo by Paju City

Hosted by the Paju-eup Residents' Autonomy Council, this festival was organized to inherit and develop the traditions and spirit of Paju-eup, the center and original hometown of Paju, and to recreate the appearance of the ancestors.

At the festival, Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City; Ahn Myung-gyu, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member; Lee Ik-seon and Oh Chang-sik, members of the Paju City Council; and Roh Young-jun, chairman of the Paju-eup Residents' Autonomy Council, along with heads of various local institutions and organizations in Paju-eup, attended to reflect on the significance of the Paju-mok Bonghwang Festival.

The highlight of the Bonghwang Festival, the "Reenactment of the Paju-mok Governor's Appointment Procession," recreates the procession of the Paju-mok governor who governed Paju-mok during the Joseon Dynasty. After performing the traditional rite at Paju Hyanggyo, the procession moved from Paju Elementary School to the Paju Cultural and Sports Center, where the festival was held.

About 100 participants, including Mayor Kim Kyung-il, the Residents' Autonomy Council chairman, the Village Leaders' Association chairman, key leaders of local social organizations, members, and residents, took part in the appointment procession, presenting a long and spectacular parade.

At the festival site, attractions blending tradition and residents were provided, such as a photo exhibition promoting the Paju-mok government office site and village photo archives collected by the Residents' Autonomy Council. In addition to experience zones prepared by Paju Middle School and local workshops, various food offerings prepared by organizations such as the Saemaeul Women's Association and the Life Improvement Association received enthusiastic responses from visitors.

Furthermore, performances by residents' center program participants, including line dance and health dance, as well as percussion (samulnori) and cotton candy shows, and stages featuring popular singers were joyfully presented.

Roh Young-jun, chairman of the Residents' Autonomy Council who prepared the festival, said, "Paju-eup has long been the center of Paju and the original hometown of historical culture," adding, "We will strive to make this a representative local cultural festival that inherits and develops Paju's traditions and identity without forgetting them."

Mayor Kim Kyung-il stated, "The traditional rite at Paju Hyanggyo and the Paju-mok governor's appointment procession are unique to this place and are the pride of Paju-eup," and added, "I hope the Paju-mok Bonghwang Festival will become a representative festival of Paju where anyone can come, enjoy together, and contribute to revitalizing the local economy."