Namwon City to Open the 95th Chunhyang Festival, a Traditional Culture Event, on the 30th

Chunhyang Festival to Be Held Under the Theme
"The Sound of Chunhyang, Opening the World"

The 95th Chunhyang Festival, Korea's representative traditional cultural festival, will be held from the 30th of this month to the 6th of next month at Gwanghallu Garden and the Yocheon area.

According to the city on the 15th, this year's Chunhyang Festival will be held under the theme "The Sound of Chunhyang, Opening the World," and is planned as a "sound-centered" cultural and arts festival where various genres, nationalities, and generations come together based on Korean traditional arts.

Poster of the 95th Chunhyang Festival. Provided by Namwon City

The festival is organized around three key themes: "Sounds of Korea," "Sounds of the World," and "Sounds of Fusion." The event will feature a wide spectrum of performances, ranging from traditional Korean music to global sounds and the fusion of digital technology, illuminating Namwon with vibrant stages.

This festival goes beyond simple performances, offering programs where anyone can directly participate and experience the festivities. Over 100 stages and experiential contents will be held throughout the festival period, allowing people of all ages, as well as domestic and international tourists, to enjoy together.

The festival will kick off with the eve event, the "Global Chunhyang Selection Contest," where global participants with both traditional beauty and individuality will gather under the name of Chunhyang to announce the opening of the festival. On the 1st of next month, the "Chunhyang Ritual," symbolizing the authenticity and identity of the festival, and the official opening ceremony will be held.

During the festival, the "Iljangchunmong Concert," featuring both traditional Korean music and popular music, will meet audiences every night. In addition, visitors to Namwon can enjoy a variety of experiences, including a "Local Food Court (F&Zone)" with Baek Jongwon's brand, a modern reinterpretation of scenes from "Chunhyangjeon" as a street parade, and the "Daedonggilnori" traditional play. At night, the area around Gwanghallu will be transformed with Cheongsachorong lantern landscape lighting and media performances, filling Namwon's nights with romance and emotion.

The city has established a systematic operation system to ensure the festival is held in a safe and pleasant environment, including traffic control, temporary parking lots, and the deployment of safety personnel. Efforts are being made across all areas, including transportation, safety, and cleanliness, so that both citizens and tourists can enjoy the festival without inconvenience.

Meanwhile, Lee Kwangyeon, the chairman overseeing this year's Chunhyang Festival, is a native of Ayeong-myeon, Namwon, and a doctor of Korean medicine currently running Lee Kwangyeon Korean Medicine Clinic in Seoul. He was awarded the Presidential Medal in 2019, has authored several books in the health field, and served as president of the Namwon Alumni Association in Seoul from 2019 to 2021. He has upheld the festival's identity by serving as chairman of the Chunhyang Festival Organizing Committee for four consecutive years since the 92nd festival.

Chairman Lee commented on this year's festival, saying, "The Chunhyang Festival is more than just a local festival; it is a cultural heritage and asset that can introduce our unique traditions and sounds to the world. I hope this year's Chunhyang Festival allows everyone to feel the depth of tradition and open the future of Namwon in communication with the world."

Meanwhile, the city plans to use this festival to reexamine the cultural heritage value of the Chunhyang Festival and, along with long-term strategies for the 100th anniversary in 2030, lead the advancement of the local cultural tourism industry.