Gwangju City to Open the 28th Gwangju Royal Ceramics Festival on April 25

Special Performance: Collaboration Between Singer Song Gain and Gwangju Municipal Gwangjiwon Nongak Troupe, Gwangju Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 3

The 28th Gwangju Royal Porcelain Festival, a representative festival of Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, will be held for 12 days from April 25 to May 6 at Gonjiam Porcelain Park.

Poster of the 28th Gwangju Royal Ceramics Festival. Provided by Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

According to Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Bang Se-hwan) on the 26th, this festival honoring the tradition of Gwangju royal porcelain, which was presented to the royal family for over 500 years, will be held under the theme "Meet the King's Porcelain in Gwangju," featuring various programs such as exhibitions, experiences, and performances.

The opening ceremony, marking the start of the festival, will feature a royal porcelain tribute parade, highlighting the connection between the ceramic culture of the Joseon Dynasty and modern Gwangju. Additionally, a special performance will be staged through a collaboration between trot singer Song Ga-in and the Gwangju Municipal Gwangjiwon Nongak Troupe, designated as Gwangju City Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 3.

During the festival, the Gwangju Royal Porcelain Master Exhibition Hall will be open, displaying various ceramic works from both domestic and international artists, including those from Zibo City, China. Visitors can watch live porcelain-making demonstrations and gain a deep understanding of the historical value of Gwangju royal porcelain through storytelling exhibition explanations.

Moreover, a "Porcelain Time Auction" program will be held for porcelain enthusiasts, offering a special opportunity to bid on royal porcelain in real-time via mobile devices.

Various hands-on experience programs will also be prepared for direct participation. Notably, "Making Royal Court Cuisine with a Chef" will be conducted, allowing participants to enjoy the unique experience of serving traditional royal court dishes on royal porcelain.

In addition, there will be tactile and gustatory experiences such as △wheel throwing △bisque painting △clay kneading play △royal costume experience △porcelain food plating △tea ceremony experience, among others.

During the festival, the Grand Performance Hall and Mirror Pond Plaza will host △Food Culture Festival △Gwangju Arts Festival △Multicultural Harmony Festival △Children’s Day Family Festival, and more. Also, the Gonjiam River Market will be open, offering visitors a variety of sights and entertainment.

A Gwangju City official stated, "Through the 28th Gwangju Royal Porcelain Festival, we aim to elevate the identity of Gwangju royal porcelain and further solidify our position as a city centered on ceramic culture. We have prepared diverse exhibitions, experiences, and performance programs, and we hope many people will show interest and participate."

Meanwhile, detailed information about the festival can be found on Gwangju City's official website and SNS channels.