Gongju Baekje Cultural Festival Shines with the "Dongtak Silver Cup"

National Treasure from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong Takes Center Stage
Baekje Artistry Revived Through Performances, Exhibitions, and Hands-On Experiences

The "Dongtak Silver Cup," a brilliant artifact from Baekje 1,500 years ago, will take center stage at this year's Baekje Cultural Festival.

The city of Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, will feature relics excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong at the 71st Baekje Cultural Festival, which opens on October 3. The festival will welcome visitors with a program encompassing performances, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences.

According to the city on September 12, the Dongtak Silver Cup, excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong in 1971, is a 15-centimeter-tall metal craftwork. It consists of a silver cup and lid placed atop a bronze pedestal.

The surface is intricately engraved with mountain peaks, dragons, and phoenixes, making it a representative artifact that showcases the outstanding craftsmanship and artistry of Baekje artisans.

The main performance, "NEW Ungjin Fantasia," will be presented under the theme "Dongtak Silver Cup, Memory of a Millennium." This convergence performance will combine wide screens, 3D visuals, and special effects. More than 50 performers are set to deliver a grand stage.

At Ungjin Baekje Starlight Garden, which will be created on Geumgang Mir Island, a large sculpture modeled after the Dongtak Silver Cup will be installed.

Various decorative installations inspired by the cup's engravings of human-faced birds, deer, and dragons will provide unique nighttime attractions.

At Seongan Village in Gongsanseong Fortress, LED sculptures and media art featuring the motifs of the Dongtak Silver Cup and Jinmyosu will create a fantastic nightscape.

For interactive visitor participation, a mobile stamp tour called "Find the Dongtak Silver Cup Disappeared from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong" will be offered. Visitors can enjoy searching for the artifact by completing missions throughout the Gongsanseong area.

At the Ungjin Experience Plaza, various Baekje cultural experience programs, including those featuring the Dongtak Silver Cup, will be available, giving visitors the chance to experience Baekje's daily life and art firsthand.

Mayor Choi Woncheol stated, "This year's Baekje Cultural Festival will be a celebration where you can vividly experience the aesthetic sensibility and artistry of Baekje from 1,500 years ago, together with the representative artifact, the Dongtak Silver Cup. I hope you enjoy a special time in Gongju, where history and romance come alive."

The 71st Baekje Cultural Festival, under the theme "Baekje, a World Heritage, Embraced in the Dongtak Silver Cup," will be held for ten days from October 3 to 12 at Geumgang Shingwan Park, Gongsanseong Fortress, and the Jemicheon area.