"Make a Wish on the Full Moon" Jeongwol Daeboreum Folk Events in Buk-gu, Gwangju

To Be Held on the 28th and March 2
Events in Four Areas Including Yongbong-dong and Munheung-dong

Gwangju Buk-gu will hold Dangsanje and folk game events in four neighborhoods, Yongbong-dong, Munheung-dong, Samgak-dong and Chunghyo-dong, on the 28th of this month and the 2nd of next month. The photo, provided by Gwangju Buk-gu, shows people sharing food at last year's Munsan Dangsanje.

Buk-gu, Gwangju will hold a variety of traditional seasonal folk events throughout the district to celebrate Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, and to pray for safety and well-being over the coming year.

According to Buk-gu on the 26th, Dangsanje rites and folk game events will be held consecutively in four neighborhoods-Yongbong-dong, Munheung-dong, Samgak-dong, and Chunghyo-dong-over two days, on the 28th of this month and on March 2. The events have been organized as rich programs that carry on the lineage of traditional culture, including Dangsanje ancestral rites, pungmul (traditional percussion) performances, traditional games, and sharing of food, all to wish for community unity and prosperity.

First, at 2 p.m. on the 28th, the “Yongbonggol Jeongwol Daeboreum Hanmadang” will kick off in the parking lot of the Durumoa Multicultural Center in Yongbong-dong. After a lively gilnori (street parade) by a pungmul troupe that circles the area around the venue to heighten the festive mood, there will be Jisin-balgi (a traditional earth-spirits blessing ritual), writing of wish papers, and a food marketplace.

On March 2, celebrations will be held consecutively at three locations. At 3 p.m. in Neutinamu Park in Munheung-dong, the “Munsan Dangsanje Cultural Festival” will take place, where a rite is performed for the village guardian Dangsannamu (sacred guardian tree) and residents share food. At the same time, in the parking lot of Wonsamgak Village in Samgak-dong, the “Wonsamgak Village Jeongwol Daeboreum Event” will be held, featuring traditional games such as kite flying, tuho (arrow-throwing), and yutnori (a traditional board game), along with pungmul gut performances and a full-moon lighting ceremony.

Then, at 7 p.m. that evening, around 485 Chunghyo-dong, about 70 local residents will gather for the “Chunghyo Dangsanje,” which will recreate the fading Dangsanje rite and feature pungmul performances, bringing the festivities to a close.

Anyone living in the community can freely take part in this Jeongwol Daeboreum celebration on-site without any prior reservation.

Moon In, Mayor of Buk-gu, said, “To mark Jeongwol Daeboreum, we have prepared a variety of events where neighbors can share warmth and pray for safety and well-being throughout the year,” adding, “I hope this venue for harmony will help instill a strong spirit of community throughout every corner of the district.”