Come See the 500-Year-Old Camellia of Naju Geumsajeong

Naju to Hold "Geumsajeong Camellia Festival" on the 29th
Utilizing the Value of Camellia Trees and Discovering Tourism Resources
A Variety of Performances and Hands-on Events Including Camellia Tea Tasting

Naju City will hold the "Geumsajeong Camellia Festival" on March 29, themed around the 500-year-old natural monument (No. 515), the Geumsajeong Camellia Tree. The photo shows the Geumsajeong Camellia Tree in Songjuk-ri, Naju. Photo by Naju City

A festival themed around the Camellia tree at Geumsajeong in Naju, Jeollanam-do, which has stood for 500 years, will be held for the first time this year.

The city of Naju, Jeollanam-do announced on the 11th that it will hold the Camellia Festival at Geumsajeong, located in Songjuk-ri, Wanggok-myeon, Naju, on the 29th.

Geumsajeong is a pavilion built in 1519, the 14th year of King Jungjong of Joseon, by 11 Confucian scholars from Naju who submitted a petition to save Jo Gwangjo. After returning to their hometown, they organized a society called Geumganggye and constructed the pavilion.

At that time, lamenting the harshness of Joseon politics, they planted Camellia trees, symbolizing unwavering integrity. These trees have taken root and bloomed every year for over 500 years to this day.

This tree stands 6 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of 2.4 meters near the roots, making it the thickest and largest Camellia tree discovered in Korea so far. Its beautiful form makes it one of the most representative Camellia trees in the country. Recognizing its value, it was designated as Natural Monument No. 515 in 2009.

Yoon Byungtae, Mayor of Naju, proposed this Camellia Festival to Wanggok-myeon to preserve the historical and cultural value of the Geumsajeong Camellia tree, discover new village tourism resources, and promote community unity among residents.

Accordingly, Wanggok-myeon formed the Geumsajeong Camellia Festival Promotion Committee, consisting of representatives of Geumganggye descendants and village leaders, and will hold the event on the 29th of this month. The festival will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a Wanggok folk music performance, followed by various performances by the city’s traditional music orchestra, Seoljanggu drumming, sijo recitation, Gakseori Pumba, invited singers, and more until 4 p.m.

There will also be a variety of hands-on programs for residents, including a Camellia drawing contest for elementary school students, Yutnori games by village, a historical review of Geumsajeong and the Camellia tree, Camellia tea tasting, and Camellia flower pressed-flower crafts.

Mayor Yoon said, "Through this village festival themed around the Geumsajeong Camellia tree, we will strengthen the community, utilize it as a tourism resource, and widely promote Naju’s hidden cultural treasures to visitors."