Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Dano Festival Blends Tradition and Modernity, Set to Open

Theme: 500 Years of Joy Remembered by Light and Wind
A 500-Year-Old Folk Festival with a Modern Touch
Cultural Performances and Hands-On Events Planned... Opening Ceremony on the 29th

The 2025 Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Dano Festival will grandly open on the 29th. Photo by Yeonggwang County

Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla Province announced on May 22 that the 2025 Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Dano Festival will be grandly held under the theme "500 Years of Joy Remembered by Light and Wind!" for four days from May 29 to June 1 at the Beopseongpo Dano Festival Transmission Education Center and throughout the Beopseongpo New Town area.

The Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Dano Festival is one of Korea's leading Dano festivals, boasting a history and tradition of over 500 years, and is recognized as one of the nation's top three Dano festivals alongside the Gangneung Danoje Festival and the Jain Danoje Festival. This year's festival, in particular, is expected to attract significant attention from both local residents and tourists nationwide, as it not only inherits its deep-rooted traditions but also adds a variety of modern cultural performances and hands-on programs.

The Beopseongpo Dano Festival is held around the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Dano Day, and has naturally taken the form of a folk festival based on the history of the Beopseongpo grain storage and the fish market culture during the Joseon Dynasty. The Beopseongpo grain storage, established in the 11th year of King Seongjong of Goryeo (992), grew to become the largest grain transportation warehouse in the country after the reign of King Jungjong of Joseon, attracting soldiers, laborers, merchants, and residents to settle in the area. As a result, the unique holiday of Dano developed into a form of folk festival.

The festival’s establishment as a popular event is also closely linked to Beopseongpo’s early fish market. The active distribution and trade of goods at the market provided the financial foundation for the Dano Festival, and the "culture of sharing," where villagers voluntarily gathered to build community bonds during Dano, also took root at this time and continues today.

The Beopseongpo Dano Festival is a community-led event that stands out from other regional Dano festivals.

Local residents voluntarily participate and volunteer, with a communal culture centered on sharing food, making it a true folk festival where people of all ages and genders can come together and enjoy. This year, in particular, a newly created musical drama capturing the tradition and spirit of the Beopseongpo Dano Festival will debut against the backdrop of the Chilsan Sea. There will also be various new programs such as the "Dano Children's Traditional Costume Contest," "Nakhwa Fireworks," and the "Student Tea Etiquette Competition," expected to offer engaging and meaningful experiences for families, youth, and local students alike.

Major events include the Yongwangje (Dragon King Ritual), a designated National Intangible Cultural Heritage ceremony, as well as traditional folk and ritual events such as Seonyu Play, the Supjaengi National Korean Traditional Music Competition, the commemorative ceremony, the Dano Festival Ssireum (wrestling) Tournament, the Youth Festival, the Student Tea Etiquette Competition, the Folk Games Competition, Dansimjul Rope Play, Ganggangsullae (traditional circle dance), and Changpo Hair Washing. There will also be various hands-on experiences and performances by invited singers, creating a cultural festival that both preserves our unique traditions and engages the public.

The performance lineup is also impressive. The "Glory Concert: A Thousand Years of Yeonggwang, Five Hundred Years of Joy" will be held at 7:30 p.m. on May 29, featuring Jeon Jonghyeok, Minji, Yoon Kyung, and Choi Sooho. On May 30 at 7:30 p.m., the Dano Celebration Performance "Following the Moonlit Path, Following the Dano Path~" will feature Yangpa, Yang Soogyung, Kim Changryeol, and emerging artists. On May 31, the Youth Festival Concert "Fly Go! Jump Go! We Are the Stars" will feature Jackpot Crew, Baekpro, DJ DIGI, and Ssakun. The closing ceremony on June 1 will feature Hwang Minho, Baek Jangmi, Park Mikyung, and Song Gain.

Yeonggwang County and the Beopseongpo Dano Festival Preservation Association are currently making final preparations for the festival. They plan to showcase the true essence of Korea’s leading traditional cultural festival through more refined program management.

A Yeonggwang County official stated, "The Beopseongpo Dano Festival is a precious cultural heritage where the spirit and wisdom of our ancestors and the community spirit are alive," adding, "We hope that through this year's Beopseongpo Dano Festival, both residents and visitors will come together across generations and regions, experience the history and beauty of Yeonggwang firsthand, and create beautiful memories."