A Grand Performance Uniting World-Class Musicians, Professional Art Troupes, and Community Culture Clubs
From September 19 to 21, Deokgokcheon in Yeongdeok-eup was filled with vibrant lights, music, cheers, applause, and laughter over the course of three days.
The "2025 Yeongdeok Life Culture Festival," an autumn night music extravaganza organized by the Yeongdeok Cultural Tourism Foundation, concluded successfully, drawing an estimated audience of about 6,000 people.
On the evening of Friday the 19th, the "2025 Yeongdeok Life Culture Festival" kicked off with the lively sounds of Batucada drums, followed by an opening performance by Naedeureum Yeonhui Troupe, a traditional Korean music group with a 38-year history. Local community cultural clubs such as Unniss and Yeju Jummananta, as well as students from the foundation's arts education programs, took the stage. The band Akdangwangchil, known for transforming traditional gut music into a global genre, captivated the audience with an exhilarating performance.
The main program, "Music Forest Yeongdeok," which began on the second day, featured musicians who have left a significant mark on the history of music across generations. These included the Korean traditional band Leenalchi, who reinterpreted the pansori Sugungga, folk musicians Jung Taechun and Park Eunok, and Jisun from Loveholic, turning Deokgokcheon into a high-quality concert venue.
Despite a sudden downpour, National Assemblyman Park Hyungsoo, Yeongdeok County Mayor Kim Kwangyeol, county council members, and both local and visiting spectators remained until the end, demonstrating a high level of audience engagement and appreciation for the music.
The grand finale on the last day of the festival, September 21, was the Yashi Hall Sunset Parade. Leading the way were about 200 members from the pungmul troupes of Yeongdeok's nine towns and townships, carrying giant flags. They were followed by approximately 330 participants from 23 clubs and organizations, each in unique costumes and accompanied by large installations representing the "Seven Siblings of Pungmul," leading the parade.
After parading through Yeongdeok-eup and returning to the Deokgokcheon festival grounds, the participating teams showcased their prepared performances in a contest, sharing the joy of receiving awards.
The Yashi Hall Night Market, held alongside the performances, featured a total of 44 booths, including Yeongdeok's youth migrant group, local and visiting market sellers, experience and food vendors, and food trucks. Seventeen experience booths, including upcycling painting and face painting, continuously attracted children throughout the three days.
This year, for the first time, a 150-meter stretch along Deokgokcheon-gil was closed to vehicles and transformed into an open-air cafe with 50 table sets. Thanks to this, festivalgoers, immersed in music, enjoyed late-night snacks from nearby food zones, creating memorable autumn nights.
Another notable change was the distribution of delivery fee coupons at the venue, allowing attendees to order food that was not available on-site and have it delivered to the festival grounds.
The "Yeongdeok Life Culture Festival" had been held at Deokgokcheon at the end of October for the past two years, but this year the event was moved to September and the duration was shortened from nine days to three, with more impactful programs that increased satisfaction among local residents and participants. Additionally, to address the recent unpredictable weather, Mongolian tents were installed throughout the venue, earning high praise for prioritizing safety.
A representative from the Yeongdeok Cultural Tourism Foundation stated, "The greatest achievement this year was the enthusiastic response from the audience to musicians like Akdangwangchil, Leenalchi, and Ska Wakers, who may have been unfamiliar to the general public. Next year, we plan to invite innovative and high-caliber musicians to further establish the identity of 'Music Forest Yeongdeok.'"
Upcoming events at Deokgokcheon in Yeongdeok-eup include the "Upcycling Art Festa" and the Yeongdeok Life Culture Week "Udada Exchange Meeting" in November.
In particular, the Upcycling Art Festa, now in its third year, will feature the nation's only "Fun Box Race" in a new format. Details can be found on the Yeongdeok Cultural Tourism Foundation website, and further inquiries can be directed to the foundation's Culture and Tourism Team.
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