Gwangju to Host the 30th Namhansanseong Cultural Festival from September 19 to 21
"Through a Thousand Years of Wind, the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival Awakens Again: The Fortress Wall of Time"
A Three-Day Grand Celebration at the World Heritage Site Namhansanseong
Highlighting the Value of Namhansanseong’s Heritage
The Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Chairman: Bang Sehwan) announced on September 8 that the city’s signature festival, the 30th Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival, will be held for three days from September 19 to 21 at Namhansanseong Provincial Park.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival. Under the theme “Through a Thousand Years of Wind, the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival Awakens Again: The Fortress Wall of Time,” a variety of programs will highlight the history and heritage value of the UNESCO World Heritage site Namhansanseong, as well as the people who have protected it.
Over the three-day festival, a rich lineup of events will take place, including the opening ceremony, “Sanseong Pungnyu: The Story of Okcheonjeong,” “Gwangju in Sanseong,” “Guardians of the Fortress,” the Namhansanseong Repertoire Performance “Burning the Moon,” “Groove in Sanseong,” “Together! Daedong Parade,” the Suojeongdae One-Night History Experience Healing Camp “Night of the Fortress, Morning of the Guardians,” “Spirit of the Fortress: Daedonggut,” the historical fortress trekking tour “Fortress Wall of Time,” the Namhansanseong Fortress Playground, and the Hyojonggaeng Tasting Challenge.
On September 19, the festival will kick off with an opening ceremony. Under the theme “People Walking on Time,” a 40-minute performance on the main stage will traverse the past, present, and future, portraying the memories and lives of those who have protected Namhansanseong and the significance and value of its heritage. The opening celebration concert will feature world-renowned jazz vocalist Nah Youn Sun and an international pianist, adding to the excitement.
On September 20, the festival will offer unique performances and a variety of hands-on experiences exclusive to the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival. The performance program includes “Sanseong Pungnyu: The Story of Okcheonjeong,” which brings to life the forgotten tales of Okcheonjeong inside Namhansanseong through traditional Korean music such as daegeum, geomungo sanjo, and taepyeongmu, held at Inhwagwan. This will be followed by “Gwangju in Sanseong,” featuring diverse cultural and artistic performances by the Gwangju Federation of Artistic and Cultural Organizations, a leading arts group in the city.
At Suojeongdae, “Guardians of the Fortress,” a traditional martial arts performance honoring the spirits of the unnamed warriors who defended Namhansanseong, will be staged. In Inhwagwan, the Namhansanseong Regional Seven Cultural Centers Association will present “Feast of Seven Colors,” a performance blending tradition and modernity. On the main stage, the city’s leading theater troupe, Pabal Drama Company, will present the original musical “Burning the Moon,” inspired by Namhansanseong.
Bang Sehwan, mayor of Gwangju City, delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival held last year. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City
In addition to performances, a variety of hands-on programs will be offered throughout Namhansanseong.
From September 19 to 20, day and night fortress wall tours led by Gwangju’s cultural interpreters, as part of the “Fortress Wall of Time” historical trekking program, will be available. There will also be a nighttime lighting event, “Bitgung,” illuminating the palace, and the “Scholar’s Tea Ceremony Experience,” where participants can dress in traditional scholar attire and brew and taste traditional tea.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival, the Namhansanseong Fortress Playground-an eco-friendly play area inspired by the Namhansanseong observatory-will be open, along with the “Fortress Wall Stamp Trekking,” where participants who complete Course 1 of the fortress wall trail will receive commemorative gifts on a first-come, first-served basis. There will also be an art market selling a variety of handcrafted goods selected through open recruitment, and unique experience booths exclusive to Namhansanseong, open to all ages, will operate throughout the three days.
On September 20, the “Together! Daedong Parade” will take place from the east, west, south, and north points around the Namhansanseong rotary. This parade is a participatory program honoring the spirit of those who have protected Namhansanseong from the past to the present, with local organizations and Gwangju Cultural Foundation supporters joining in. Visitors are welcome to join the parade on site.
This year, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival, special nighttime programs have been prepared to foster intergenerational communication and empathy.
“Groove in Sanseong” is a nighttime emotional party where visitors can enjoy Gwangju’s traditional liquors and Namhansanseong-inspired cocktails, as well as bakery items made with Toechon tomatoes, while watching a performance by the electronic band IDIOTAPE and local art groups. This OIY (Old Is Young) concept program, exclusive to the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival, combines local food and beverages with cultural content to offer a unique experience for all generations.
Another nighttime program is the Suojeongdae One-Night History Experience Healing Camp, “Night of the Fortress, Morning of the Guardians,” which allows participants to spend a night at Suojeongdae, a nationally designated heritage treasure, for an immersive historical camping experience. Participants will listen to lectures on the history of Namhansanseong with the fortress as a backdrop, write a “bedside diary” inspired by the sounds of nature to reflect on the spirit of the guardians, and finish the experience with a meditation program at dawn the next day. Participation is limited to those who register in advance.
On the final day of the festival, Sunday, September 21, the festival’s origin, “Daedonggut,” will be held under the title “Spirit of the Fortress: Daedonggut.” Cheongnyangdang, which is usually closed to the public, will be open for one day only, and a Cheongnyangdang ritual will be held at 6 a.m., followed by a Daedonggut performance on the main stage. There will also be a Hyojonggaeng Tasting Challenge, where visitors can try Hyojonggaeng, a Joseon-era hangover soup traditionally eaten at dawn.
Throughout the three days of the festival, the Namhansanseong Merchants Association will host the “Sanseong Flavor Food Program” at the South Gate parking lot, offering visitors a chance to sample the area’s signature dishes and specialties, prepared and served by local merchants to showcase the unique flavors of Namhansanseong.
Photo of Gwangju Mayor Bang Sehwan leading a parade at the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival held last year. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City
In addition, programs for the whole family will be held throughout Namhansanseong, demonstrating the festival’s role as Gwangju’s premier event, blending tradition and modernity.
A festival official from the Gwangju Cultural Foundation stated, “We hope that the 30th anniversary of the Namhansanseong Cultural Festival will be a time to reflect on the value of the World Heritage site Namhansanseong and the people who have preserved its legacy,” adding, “We expect it to be a profound festival where history, art, and the stories of citizens come together.”
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