Blending Tradition with Youth Culture
Sungkyunkwan University announced that the traditional culture festival "2025 Yuso Culture Festival Gohanora," hosted by the official student organization Yusaeng Cultural Planning Group Cheongnang, will be held starting on the 20th at Bicheondang in Sungkyunkwan, as well as in various locations around Jongno-gu and at Myeongnyundang.
"Gohanora" is an event that modernizes and reinterprets the Yuso (the memorials submitted by Confucian scholars) culture of the Joseon Dynasty, in which Sungkyunkwan scholars would submit appeals to the king. Every year, the event is led and organized by students of Sungkyunkwan University.
This year's festival will feature a "Soheng" program, which is a modern reenactment of the traditional procession in which Sungkyunkwan scholars delivered memorials to the king.
Approximately 300 students, dressed in the traditional scholar attire called Danryeong, will parade from the Munmyo Shrine at Sungkyunkwan, through the Jongno area, and back to Myeongnyundang. During the procession, they will present musical and dance performances, and express the fusion of traditional and youth culture as they pass through Sungkyunkwan, Changdeokgung Palace, Insadong, and Gyeongbokgung Palace.
After the Soheng, a flash mob performance wishing for the success of the Yuso will be held at Myeongnyundang, along with congratulatory performances by the Sungkyunkwan University Choir and the Korea National University of Physical Education dance club.
Additionally, at 4:20 p.m., Lee Cheonseung, head of the Sungkyun Character Education Center, will participate in a "Bidap" ceremony, directly responding to the youth memorials.
This ceremony both reenacts a traditional Joseon Dynasty ritual and carries symbolic meaning, signifying a commitment to listening to the voices of young people.
This year's "Gohanora" is held in conjunction with the "2025 Republic of Korea Youth Memorial Project." The theme of this year's contest is "Ideas to Promote Empathy and Exchange in Youth Society." The selected "Sodu" (representative of the memorial) will read the memorial on behalf of the youth, and the head of the Sungkyun Character Education Center will deliver a response, following this format throughout the event.
The event consists of: △ Daeuisa (Opening Ceremony) at Sungkyunkwan, △ Soheng (Parade) around Jongno, and △ Soban (Memorial Presentation and Response Ceremony) at Myeongnyundang. Throughout these stages, the event provides an opportunity for students, the local community, and the nation to communicate together.
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