Differentiated Performances and Experiential Programs Receive Positive Reviews
Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province announced on the 7th that the 24th Jinju Nongae Festival, held at Jinju Fortress and the Jinju Battle History Park, concluded successfully with enthusiastic support from Jinju citizens and many tourists.
This year's Nongae Festival, held under the theme "Excitement of Youth, A New Gyobang," was based on Jinju's unique traditional culture of Gyobang, and featured a variety of experiential events and modern content centered on poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, song, and dance. The festival offered a wealth of attractions and activities for families, solidifying its reputation as Jinju's representative spring festival.
The official events began with a tea ceremony honoring the historical significance, a procession for the spirit tablet, and the Uiam Byeolje, followed by a Jinju Geommu flash mob for all age groups, the "Gyobang Culture Tail to Tail" program, the Gyobang Culture Exhibition Hall, the Jinju Gyobang Performing Arts Play "Gyobangdeon," the "Jwachungudol Jinjumoksa Minjeong Sunsi" program, and the Nongae Festival Old Photo Exhibition. These diverse programs, many of which were introduced for the first time this year, transformed the festival into a space for intergenerational communication and empathy through culture and the arts.
In addition, coinciding with the 64th Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Sports Festival held in Jinju from May 2 to 5, the event served as an opportunity to newly showcase the diverse charms of Jinju, a city of culture and the arts, not only to the 18 participating city and county teams and their officials, but also to the international exchange delegation from Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Following the tea ceremony, a ritual offering tea to the 70,000 civilians, officials, and soldiers who died during the Imjin War, the procession for Nongae's spirit tablet was expanded from Chokseokmun to Gongbukmun. The festival officially began with an opening declaration by Kim Sungkyu, Chairperson of the Festival Committee. Attendees included Jinju Mayor Cho Gyu-il, City Council Chairperson Baek Seunghung, city council members, the Chiang Mai international exchange delegation from Thailand, city and county sports association presidents from the province, and heads of major related organizations and social groups.
The highlight of the Nongae Festival, the Uiam Byeolje, is the only female ritual ceremony that includes music, song, and dance as part of the ancestral rites. Marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, Kim Jihyun, Director of the Western Gyeongnam Veterans Affairs Office, served as the chief officiant; Noh Yuna, a recognized holder of the Jinju Geommu intangible cultural heritage, served as the second officiant; and Yoon Eunyoung, president of the Jinju Health College student council and a representative of the future generation, served as the third officiant.
In particular, the Jinju Geommu flash mob, performed to K-POP music by over 100 participants including children, youth, and adults of various ages, received an enthusiastic response from the audience. The 2nd National Gyobang Culture Grand Festival showcased the essence of Gyobang dance from across the country, and a new exhibition experience incorporating AI technology was introduced. Additional events such as a reenactment of the Joseon-era civil service exam "Hyangsi" and a Children's Day commemorative event made the Jinju Nongae Festival even more vibrant.
The "Jinju Gyobang Performing Arts Play" offered a unique experience to visitors, while the "Gyobang Culture Tail to Tail" program featured actors dressed as women, constables, and merchants from the Joseon Dynasty, who toured Jinju Fortress and explained Gyobang culture through vivid storytelling, providing a valuable opportunity for a proper understanding of Gyobang culture.
At the Jinju Battle History Park, artists displayed flags featuring poetry, calligraphy, and paintings inspired by Nongae's spirit of sacrifice and Jinju Gyobang culture. The "Nongae Festival Old Photo Exhibition" allowed visitors to share precious memories and reflect on the festival's historical significance.
Visitors also had the chance to experience modern interpretations of Jinju Gyobang's poetry, calligraphy, and painting, participate in musical instrument performances with young artists, enjoy live pop music performances, and take part in K-POP random play programs that offered contemporary interpretations of Gyobang's music, song, and dance. A stamp tour allowed participants to experience the basic concepts of Gyobang culture's music, song, dance, poetry, calligraphy, and painting, capturing the attention of many visitors.
At the outdoor performance area near Jinju Fortress, a traditional marketplace was recreated, featuring a flea market with Jinju's agricultural and specialty products, crafts, and goods, as well as circus performances, attracting large crowds of families. The "JinjuSat-1B Miniature Satellite Making Experience" was especially popular, befitting Jinju's status as a leading city in the aerospace industry.
On the Nam River, family kayaking experiences offered a unique activity, while the "Slow Mailbox Experience," where visitors wrote letters to themselves for Christmas this year, provided a way to remember the 2025 Jinju Nongae Festival in the spring.
Mayor Cho Gyu-il stated, "I deeply thank the citizens of Jinju, related organizations, volunteers, and event organizers for their cooperation in making the festival a success," and added, "I ask for the continued support and cooperation of our citizens so that the Jinju Nongae Festival, based on our city's unique Gyobang culture, can develop into a leading cultural and artistic festival representing Korea."
Festival Committee Chairperson Kim Sungkyu said, "This year's Jinju Nongae Festival was especially meaningful as it was created and enjoyed together with citizens and visitors," and added, "Next year, we will continue to uphold the festival's historical significance and authenticity, and support a variety of performances and experiential programs so that all generations can empathize and come together through culture and the arts."
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