Hwasun County Successfully Concludes "Dojanggol Batnorae Festival"

Highlighting the Significance of Preserving the Dojangri Batnorae

Hwasun County in South Jeolla Province recently concluded the “Dojanggol Batnorae Festival,” an event dedicated to preserving the Dojangri Batnorae, at the Dojangri Village Community Center in Doam-myeon. The event was a great success.

According to the county on November 4, the event was attended by Lee Hobum, Deputy Governor of Hwasun, along with about 100 local residents and tourists. Together, they reflected on the precious value of Dojangri’s traditional agricultural songs.

Scene from the Dojangri Batnorae Tradition Event. Provided by Hwasun County

The event began with a pre-ceremony performance of the Hwasun Neungju Ssitgimgut, which was newly designated as an intangible cultural heritage of South Jeolla Province. This was followed by a live demonstration of the “Dojangri Batnorae,” a traditional song once sung in the fields of Dojangri, highlighting the significance of the transmission event.

Additionally, the program featured a “Sing Batnorae Together” segment in which both local residents and tourists participated, as well as invited performances such as Neungju Deulsori and Naepyeong-ri Gilsseum Nore, both local heritage songs of Hwasun County. These performances provided a richer and more diverse cultural experience.

Lee Hobum, Deputy Governor of Hwasun, stated, “It was very impressive to see the villagers themselves taking the initiative to preserve disappearing traditions. The county will continue to do its utmost to ensure the value of Dojangri Batnorae is passed down, through unwavering support for the preservation and transmission of intangible heritage.”

Meanwhile, Dojangri Batnorae is a field labor song sung by women as they planted and tended cotton in the mountainous fields of Dojangri. The song poetically expresses the emotions and hardships of women, and it has been designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 51 of South Jeolla Province.