Gwangju Donggu District announced on April 28 that it will host the 3rd Donggu Mudeungsan Humanities Festival, titled 'InmunFor:rest'.
This humanities festival, now in its third year since its inception in 2023, will take place over two days on May 31 and June 1 in the Jeungsimsa area of Mudeungsan. The 'Donggu Mudeungsan Humanities Festival' has received positive reviews for offering time for reflection in the forest, distinguishing itself from other local festivals.
This year's festival, held under the slogan "Towards the Blossoming Side, Towards Hope," will use the keyword "Earth" to encourage participants to reflect on and discuss our lives amid the climate crisis. "Towards the Blossoming Side" is the subtitle of the final chapter of author Han Kang's novel "The Boy is Coming," while "Hope" represents the unwavering direction that we must all pursue.
With "Earth" as its central theme, the festival will feature participation from local environmental organizations, including Mudeungsan National Park, Gwangju-Jeonnam Green Alliance, Eco-friendly Resource Circulation Center, Wildlife Rescue and Management Center, and the Climate Environment Vegan Network, all of which will present a variety of content.
The festival's main programs will focus on author Han Kang, who inspired hope across the nation by winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature in December 2024. The programs include a special exhibition titled "In Han Kang's Forest," composed of sentences from Han Kang's works, and a literary tour of "The Boy is Coming," which will invite around 60 Japanese readers to visit locations featured in the novel and engage in exchanges with Korean readers.
There will also be programs that address climate and environmental issues from a humanities perspective. These include a biodiversity exploration titled "Recording Life," which involves searching for species living in the Mudeungsan cypress forest; "Upcycle Music," a performance program with composer Lee Seungkyu, also known as the "Garbage Piano Man"; and "Hello, Mudeungsan Animals," where residents will create works featuring the wild and endangered animals of Mudeungsan. These programs aim to encourage festival attendees to reflect on climate and environmental issues.
Other events include a "Humanities Talk" featuring novelist Kim Tak-hwan and installation artist Choi Byungsoo; a "Forest Meditation Picnic" in the Mudeungsan cypress forest; "Humanities Contemplation Garden," a journey in search of meditation; and "Youth Literature Busking," where youth reading clubs will read and share Donggu's 2025 Book of the Year.
District Mayor Lim Taek stated, "The 'Donggu Mudeungsan Humanities Festival' is an opportunity to reflect on and discuss the humanities values we must uphold for the recovery of our community. With the severe climate crisis threatening not only future generations but also our current lives, I hope many residents will take interest and participate in this festival as we contemplate a sustainable society together."
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