From the Royal Procession to the Ritual and Seolleongtang Sharing for 2,500 People:
A Celebration of Tradition Shining Through the Spring Rain
Three Hundred Citizens, Including Children and International Residents, Join the Royal Procession...
A Modern Reinterpretation of Ritual Culture
The 46th Seonnongdaeje, a festival wishing for a bountiful harvest and happiness, was held in grand fashion on April 19 in the area around Seonnongdan History Park in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu. Seonnongdaeje is a traditional ceremony from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, in which the king offered rituals to Seonnong and Hujik to pray for a good harvest.
The custom of sharing beef soup with the people after the ritual is said to be the origin of Seolleongtang.
The day's events began at 9 a.m. with the 'Jeonhyangnye,' a ceremony for delivering incense and ritual texts to be used in the rite, held at Dongdaemun-gu Office Square. This was followed by the grand royal procession ('Eogahaengnyeol') to Seonnongdan, which paraded solemnly down the road. About 300 citizens participated in the procession, including ritual officiants from the Seonnongdaeje Preservation Committee, traditional market merchant associations, the Seoul Yangnyeongsi Association, international students, and a children's Taekwondo group, creating a modern reinterpretation of the 'open ritual culture.'
The spring rain that fell just in time seemed to bless this year's harvest in advance. Citizens paused to enjoy the royal procession as it filled the road with traditional pageantry.
When the royal procession arrived at Seonnongdan, traditional ceremonies such as the Seonnong ritual, ritual music, and Ilmu dance performances were vividly reenacted, bridging 600 years of history.
At the same time as the ritual, the 'Seolleongtang Sharing for 2,500 People' event held at Jongam Elementary School, across from the altar, was met with great enthusiasm from local residents. With guidance from volunteers from the Dongdaemun-gu branch of the Korean Red Cross and the Dongdaemun-gu Volunteer Center, citizens were able to enjoy Seolleongtang in an orderly and pleasant environment.
One resident who attended the event remarked, "After watching the ritual for a good harvest and eating Seolleongtang, I feel like everything will go well for me this year."
District Mayor Lee Pilhyung said, "Through this ritual, I sincerely hope that all our people will have a prosperous and happy year."
The 46th Seonnongdaeje in 2025 was organized by the Dongdaemun Cultural Foundation and sponsored by Dongdaemun-gu. On the eve of the main event, April 18, the 'Seolleongseolleong Gugak Concert' was held in the Knowledge Flower Garden in Jeonnong-dong, offering a festive prelude.
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