Yeoju City to Open the Festival at Silleuksa Tourist Site on May 1
The Return of Gyeonggi-do’s Signature Festival Blending Ceramic Culture and Tourism
Experiences and Performances for All Generations... Ushering in a New Era for Yeoju Tourism
A festival where tradition and modernity coexist will be held in Yeoju, the city of ceramics. The 37th Yeoju Ceramic Festival will take place from May 1 to May 11 at the Silleuksa Tourist Site in Yeoju.
This festival, organized by the Yeoju Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation (Chairperson Lee Sunyeol), is themed "Enjoy Spring, Ceramics and the Yeo River in Motion," and is designed to harmoniously blend traditional ceramic culture with contemporary tourism content.
In particular, the opening ceremony on May 1 will be a symbolic moment connecting Yeoju's present and future, as it coincides with both the opening of the Namhangang Suspension Bridge and the proclamation of 2025 as the Year of Yeoju Tourism. The opening stage will feature a spectacular air show by the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles, performances by the Eighth United States Army and Seventh Corps military bands, as well as congratulatory performances by Choon Gil, Jang Minho, and Jang Yoonjeong. In addition, a multimedia drone show titled "Sejong, Resting in the Embrace of Yeoju" will be staged, fully capturing the identity and pride of Yeoju, the city of King Sejong.
Throughout the festival grounds, visitors can enjoy a rich array of ceramic content, representing both Yeoju’s leading industry and cultural heritage. The traditional wood-fired kiln experience is a signature program where participants can directly engage in the traditional ceramic firing process, including lighting the fire and removing finished pieces, witnessing firsthand how high heat and clay create ceramics. Performances by Yeoju’s master ceramicists will vividly showcase the birth of ceramics as art through wheel throwing, calligraphy, and carving on stage.
In addition, there will be more than ten experience booths operated by various ceramic groups, offering activities such as pottery wheel experiences, painting daily-use ceramics, making children’s character figures, and crafting plaster air fresheners, allowing people of all ages to participate easily. Within the Ceramic World promotional and sales pavilion, a total of 90 booths will be set up, where Yeoju’s leading ceramic companies will present their own works, and young ceramic artists will showcase their creations along the "Youth Ceramics Street."
The festival is not limited to tradition and hands-on experiences. Every evening, the "Suspension Bridge Concert" will be held at the special stage on the north side of the Silleuksa Tourist Site.
On May 3, "Ambassador’s Day" will feature performances by singers Hye Eunyi and Tei, soprano Sindella, and will be hosted by actor Ahn Seunghoon. On May 4, the "Youth Concert" will include trot singer Lee Chanwon, Wax, Kim Kyungmin, and others. On May 5, in celebration of Children’s Day, the "Classic Concert" will be performed by the Muse Wind Orchestra and the Yeoju City Children’s Choir, offering a program for the whole family. On May 6, the "7080 Concert" will feature singers Choi Seongsu and Yang Soogyung. On the afternoon of May 10, a special ceramic auction performance titled "Happy Ceramics with Pengsoo" will be held, featuring the popular character Pengsoo and master ceramicist Park Gwangcheon. That night, the "EDM DJ Concert" with comedian and DJ Park Myungsoo (G-Park) and singer Kim Seongsu will energize the younger generation.
The festival reflects everyday life in Yeoju. In addition to ceramics, there will be 11 different craft experience programs, including leather, woodworking, dyeing, and knotting; food booths and food trucks featuring Yeoju’s local agricultural products; as well as promotional booths for Yeoju city government and community participation programs from towns and villages.
Nighttime content such as media art inspired by the legend of Ssari Mountain, known for its abundance of kaolin (the raw material for ceramics), and the Ceramic Starlight Garden, will offer visitors a unique sensory experience of Yeoju’s cultural heritage and natural resources. At the Yeoju Ceramic Culture Center Exhibition Hall, there will be interactive programs with teaware artists, tea tastings accompanied by traditional sweets made from Yeoju rice, and a special exhibition by master Park Gwangcheon.
Lee Sunyeol, Chairperson of the Yeoju Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation, stated, "This year’s Yeoju Ceramic Festival is a celebration created together by local residents, tourists, and young artists, centered around the traditional ceramic industry," and added, "We hope you will experience firsthand the future of Yeoju tourism, which begins with the opening of the Namhangang Suspension Bridge."
In a time of "seeing, creating, enjoying, and staying," the 37th Yeoju Ceramic Festival is set to complete Yeoju’s spring in the most authentic way.
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