In Yeongyang County, Gyeongbuk Province, the 18th Jo Jihoon Arts Festival, honoring Jo Jihoon?a prominent poet of the Cheongrokpa movement and a leading figure in modern Korean poetry?was successfully held from May 9 to 10, 2025, in the Jusil Village area. The event was organized by the Yeongyang Literary Association, chaired by Hwang Taejin.
This year’s festival featured a variety of programs, including poetry recitation, a drawing contest, and a literary writing competition. The writing competition was divided into elementary, middle, high school, and university/general divisions, with the themes of "morning," "journey," and "tree." The drawing contest was held under the theme of "Jusil Village Scenery."
In particular, this year’s festival carried special significance as it expressed a collective wish to share in the pain of the wildfire damage that occurred in March and to overcome its aftermath. During the opening ceremony, messages of consolation for local residents affected by the wildfire and tributes to the victims were delivered.
County Governor Oh Dochang stated, "The Jo Jihoon Arts Festival is a comprehensive cultural and artistic event that represents Yeongyang, a region rich in literary tradition. I hope this festival will be a time when art brings comfort and poetry inspires hope. I also hope that solidarity and interest in restoring the wildfire-affected areas will continue to grow."
Marking its 18th year, the Jo Jihoon Arts Festival has become a platform for cultural and artistic exchange, inheriting the literary spirit of poet Jo Jihoon and attracting literature enthusiasts from across the country each year.
Yeongyang County plans to continue promoting various cultural events to aid in wildfire recovery and revitalize the region, using this year’s festival as a starting point.
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