Jeonju City to Host 'Jeonju National Heritage Night Tour' on June 6-7

Held at Seven Historic Sites Including Hanok Village and Gyeonggijeon

Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province will host the '2025 Jeonju National Heritage Night Tour' on June 6 and 7 at seven historical sites, including Jeonju Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon, Pungnammun, and Jeollagamyeong.

According to the city on May 27, this year marks the 10th anniversary of Jeonju Night Tour, which will be held under the slogan "Jeonju at Night, Walking Through History." The event will take place at Pungpaejigwan, Omokdae, and Jeonju Hyanggyo, expanding from the previous four locations.

Jeonju City will hold the 'Jeonju National Heritage Night Tour' on the 6th and 7th of next month at seven historical sites including Jeonju Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon, Pungnammun, and Jeollagamyeong. Photo by Jeonju City

Additionally, the festival will broaden its scope by expanding the event spaces and covering a wider range of history, extending back to the founding of Later Baekje in the year 900 during the Joseon Dynasty. This approach aims to utilize Jeonju's rich historical heritage in greater depth.

This year, nine new programs will be introduced for the first time, and existing programs will be revamped to better meet visitor demand, creating a more refined and engaging festival experience.

The main programs of this night tour, which consists of 26 programs across eight categories, include the Gyeonhwon King Wrestling Tournament and the themed performance "Encountering the Capital."

During the night tour, the wrestling tournament and themed performance will be organically connected. By combining traditional folk games and performing arts with historical imagination, the event aims to widely promote Jeonju's history and open new horizons for heritage-based content.

First, the Gyeonhwon King Wrestling Tournament, which inherits the spirit of King Gyeonhwon who shook the Later Three Kingdoms period, will recreate the nostalgic scene of villagers gathering for friendly competition during traditional holidays. This event will feature citizen participation to enhance the festival atmosphere.

In addition, the themed performance "Encountering the Capital" will be interwoven with the wrestling tournament, presenting a modern reinterpretation of Later Baekje's history through dance drama. This not only adds narrative depth to the wrestling tournament but also combines folk games and performing arts to shed new light on the history of Jeonju, the royal capital of Later Baekje.

Furthermore, this year's Jeonju Night Tour will feature programs that highlight the unique characteristics of each location, such as "In Search of Lost Baekje" (throughout the venue), "Guesthouse Night Tales" (Pungpaejigwan), "Hyanggyo Ghost Stories" (Operation Name: Baekkiri, Jeonju Hyanggyo), and "The Birth of the Jeolla Governor" (Jeollagamyeong), all running simultaneously.

Among these, "In Search of Lost Baekje" is a program where participants embark on an adventure to find Gyeonhwon by exploring Jeonju's national heritage sites. Those who find the hidden Gyeonhwon figures and collect all the stamps will receive special night tour merchandise.

"Guesthouse Night Tales" is a storytelling program about Jeonju's history, narrated by actors transformed into household gods who have long guarded Pungpaejigwan. These actors will vividly and entertainingly share Jeonju's transformation from the Joseon era to the present day.

In addition, "Hyanggyo Ghost Stories" at Jeonju Hyanggyo will add new storytelling elements to the traditional hide-and-seek game, sparking visitor interest and introducing the identity of the hyanggyo. The program "The Birth of the Jeolla Governor," which reinterprets the people photographed by George Falk at Jeollagamyeong in 1884 and recreates daily life in the Joseon-era Jeollagamyeong, will offer mystery plays, Joseon-era job experiences, and traditional games all in one place.

Moreover, the 2025 Jeonju National Heritage Night Tour will offer a variety of heritage-based content inspired by historical imagination, including "Night Fortress Tour of the Later Baekje Royal Palace," a historical talk show featuring experts; "Unexpected Gugak," a traditional Korean music performance at Pungnammun; and "Jeonju Four Gates Fortress Tour," a mobile stamp tour of Jeonjubuseong.

A representative of the Jeonju National Heritage Night Tour said, "As this year marks the 10th anniversary of Jeonju Night Tour, we have prepared an even richer festival. We expect that with every step, citizens will encounter the diverse history of Jeonju."

Meanwhile, details about program composition and advance reservations can be found on the official website or social media channels of the Jeonju National Heritage Night Tour.