A Rich Array of National Competitions,
Intangible Heritage Performances, and Street Festivals
Miryang City in Gyeongsangnam-do, which was selected as the "Cultural City of the Year" for 2025, is presenting a variety of cultural and artistic events throughout May, centered around the 67th Miryang Arirang Grand Festival.
Programs that citizens and tourists can enjoy together?such as nationwide art competitions, traditional culture performances, family-oriented performance content, and street festivals?are being held throughout the city, attracting much attention.
Miryang City plans to promote "Miryang, a cultural city where culture breathes in daily life" nationwide by reinterpreting the city's traditions and stories with a modern sensibility.
Seven national-level cultural and artistic competitions will be held in May, during the 67th Miryang Arirang Grand Festival, featuring painting, literature, music, and traditional culture events in succession.
The National Kite Flying Competition will be held on the 24th from 9 a.m. at the Sammun-dong Songnim Sculpture Park, hosted by the Kite Flying Preservation Association. The National Student Art Competition will be hosted by the Miryang Branch of the Korean Fine Arts Association and will take place from 9:30 a.m. around Yeongnamnu. The National Hangul Writing Contest will be held at City Hall Square, organized by the Miryang Branch of the Korean Writers' Association.
The National Calligraphy Competition will be held on the 25th at 10 a.m. in the old Miryang University auditorium, hosted by the Miryang Seodohwe. The National Han Poetry Writing Contest will be organized by the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association and held at Myeongnyundang in Miryang Hyanggyo.
The National Miryang Arirang Theater Festival, held on the 4th and 5th, and the National Student Music Competition, held on the 17th, concluded successfully with passionate performances.
These competitions serve as cultural exchange events in which artists and citizens from across the country participate together, providing opportunities to directly experience the cultural depth and capabilities of Miryang.
Intangible heritage and traditional arts are being showcased in various intangible cultural heritage performances that highlight Miryang's traditional folk games and Confucian scholar culture.
On the 19th, at the "Byeotnyu" complex cultural space, a special lecture on tea culture, tea tasting, and a small concert will be held as part of the "Jeompiljae Tea and Beautiful Tea Gathering," a Confucian scholar culture event centered around tea.
On the 31st, Yerim Seowon will host "Jeompiljaejeon," a comprehensive cultural event featuring lectures, performances, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences.
Every Saturday in May, at the National Treasure Yeongnamnu, regular intangible heritage performances will be held, including Miryang Baekjungnori, a national intangible heritage, and Miryang Beopheung Sangwon Nori, a Gyeongsangnam-do intangible heritage. At Miryang Hyanggyo, the "Seonbi Pungnyu Performance," which utilizes Miryang Arirang and intangible heritage, will be staged, offering a stage that blends tradition and creativity.
At Miryang Arena, the core space of "Cultural City Miryang," regular weekend performances for families and citizens are held every week, receiving an enthusiastic response.
On the 10th, the musical "Princess Hamlet: Destiny Engraved with a Brush" was staged, receiving a passionate ovation from the audience. On the 17th, the "Magic Science Concert," which combined science and magic, captivated children and family audiences.
On the 31st, the family play "The Secret of the Little Mermaid: Ursula's Voice Shop" will be performed.
This performance series balances emotion, entertainment, artistry, and accessibility, offering opportunities to enjoy culture in everyday life.
The "Car-Free Street: Shinnaneundaero" event will take place from the 23rd to the 25th, during the Miryang Arirang Grand Festival, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for three days on the riverside road in Naeil-dong near Yeongnamnu (90-2 Naeil-dong), under the title "2025 Car-Free Street: Shinnaneundaero."
This event, held in conjunction with the Miryang Arirang Grand Festival, is designed to extend the festival's excitement into the city streets and create a space for cultural exchange where both citizens and tourists can come together.
Organized by the Miryang Cultural City Center, the event will feature youth food booths, a local artist art market, and a citizen marketplace. It is expected to invigorate the city center and have a positive effect on the local economy.
In addition, at the "Yeoldudal" complex cultural space, weekend busking performances, a cafe, and local agricultural and craft product markets are held every weekend. At "Byeotnyu," a complex cultural space established in Gyo-dong Hyanggyo and Goga Village, visitors can experience traditional tea firsthand and enjoy the elegance and relaxation of tradition in a tranquil hanok atmosphere.
Mayor Ahn Byunggu stated, "As Miryang has been selected as the Cultural City of the Year, we are steadily building a unique cultural city model based on citizen-led cultural planning and the region's rich artistic assets. This May's cultural and artistic events will promote Miryang's cultural capabilities nationwide and serve as an opportunity to enhance citizens' pride."
Meanwhile, the 67th Miryang Arirang Grand Festival will be held from the 22nd to the 25th along the Miryang riverside and around Yeongnamnu, featuring a variety of cultural performances and hands-on events, including competitions.
Started in 1957 as a commemorative event for the major restoration of Yeongnamnu, this festival has established itself as a representative festival of South Korea, being listed in the "Local 100," a collection of regional cultural assets selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
