The '2025 Yeongju Korean Seonbi Culture Festival,' which represents Yeongju, the city of Seonbi, will be held for three days from May 3 to May 5, the first weekend of May, at the Munjeong Riverside area (in front of the Citizens' Sports Complex) and around Seonbi Village.
During the festival, the city will host a variety of captivating performances and diverse programs that allow visitors to experience the elegance of Seonbi culture, not only at Sosu Seowon, Seonbi Village, and Seonbi Sesang, but also throughout the entire city center of Yeongju, immersing the whole city in the festive spirit.
The Yeongju Korean Seonbi Culture Festival is a celebration that embodies the 'Seonbi Spirit,' regarded as the spiritual foundation of Korea. Each year, Yeongju City selects a new theme, offering unique experiences that allow participants to directly engage with and feel the Seonbi spirit and culture, thus attracting significant interest and participation.
The greatest appeal of the Seonbi Culture Festival lies in the opportunity to directly experience and appreciate the Seonbi spirit, which reflects the life philosophy of the Korean people, through a wide range of cultural experiences and performances.
This year's festival, under the theme 'The Warmth of Seonbi, the Fragrance Born from Encounters,' will feature a variety of events throughout the city, including at Sosu Seowon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Korea's first state-recognized Confucian academy; Seonbi Village, which showcases the lifestyle of the Seonbi; Seonbi Sesang; and the beloved Munjeong Riverside area.
Yeongju City will hold the '2025 Yeongju Korean Seonbi Culture Festival' in the Munjeong Riverside and Seonbi Village areas.
On the first day of the festival, May 3, the opening ceremony will begin with the 'Goyuje,' a ritual for the peace and well-being of Yeongju City, attended by over 100 Confucian scholars from Yeongju, Sunheung, and Punggi regions. This will be followed by a cultural performance at Yeongju Hyanggyo, the Dendong Eomee Hwajeon Nori (a traditional flower pancake play), and performances by local artists, offering a rich array of attractions from the very start of the festival.
Following the excitement of the day's festivities, the opening ceremony will feature the 7th Seonbi Grand Prize awards ceremony, a themed performance, and the Seonbi Concert with Ha Yoonju, Yoon Taehwa, Kim Suchan, and My Jin, infusing the entire city with a festive atmosphere.
On the second day of the festival, May 4, there will be a children's hanbok fashion contest, a random play dance competition, and the Seonbi Spirit Concert featuring gayageum player Harang and the group Ttangkongkong. At the Seonbi Village venue, local artist competitions and the 'Seonbi's Four Directions' boom-up performance will be held continuously, further enhancing the festival's excitement.
On May 5, Children's Day and the final day of the festival, special performances and experiences such as a magic bubble show and balloon show will be offered, focusing on children and family visitors to create unforgettable memories.
As the festival takes place during the golden holiday period that includes Children's Day, a wide variety of hands-on experiences will be available, allowing families to easily enjoy the history and characteristics of Seonbi, as well as the value of the Yeongju Seonbi spirit together.
At the main stage set up at Munjeong Riverside, more than 50 lanterns depicting various forms of Seonbi will be displayed to convey the meaning of the festival, and the 'Seonbi Theme Pavilion' will feature an experience zone where visitors can explore a day in the life of a Seonbi, based on a twelve-hour day.
In addition, a variety of traditional culture experience programs will be available, such as making mother-of-pearl keychains, mini Cheongsachorong lanterns, hanbok rentals and gache (traditional wig) experiences, writing family mottos, and reciting Confucian classics, offering unique enjoyment for family outings.
At the secondary stage, lively traditional plays such as the royal procession, Gongyangmi Sambaekseok, and Baengpajeon will be performed, along with participatory programs like Ganggangsullae, Jigenori, and Yutnori. These activities, which embody the unique Seonbi spirit of the Korean people, will provide a variety of attractions and enjoyable experiences throughout the festival period.
At Seonbi Village and Sosu Seowon, which serve as additional festival venues, there will be etiquette experiences in Confucian attire, workshops for making gat (traditional hats) and mapae (horse identification tags), eco-bag making, an exhibition of wildflowers from Sobaek Mountain, and a special exhibition at the Sosu Museum. At Seonbi Sesang, the '2025 Children's Seonbi Festival' will take place, featuring activities such as the children's Jangwon-gupje (top scholar) ceremony, Pungnyu Playground, Alice Parade, and traditional martial arts demonstrations, providing content that the whole family can enjoy together.
The festival is not limited to the official period. In the lead-up to the event, the city is heightening excitement and fostering a festive atmosphere in the region by offering a variety of cultural performances and Seonbi culture experience opportunities.
First, on April 25 and 26, the musical 'Geumseongdaegun' will be staged at the Magpie Hall of the Culture and Arts Center, and on May 1 and 2, the musical 'Jeong Dojeon' will be performed at Yeongju Citizens' Hall, welcoming audiences.
During the festival, national contests such as the Jukgye Literary Contest and the National Folk Photography Contest will be held at Seonbi Village, and on May 4, the National Han Poetry Contest will take place at Yeongju Citizens' Hall, providing a wealth of attractions and opportunities for participation.
Detailed information about this three-day festival, themed 'The Warmth of Seonbi, the Fragrance Born from Encounters,' can be found on the official website.
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