Suncheon City Successfully Concludes the 22nd Suncheonman Reed Festival

Direct Democracy Eco-Festival Planned and Participated by Civil Society and Residents

Heo Seok, Mayor of Suncheon (right), and Heo Yuin, Chairman of the Suncheon City Council (left), are leading the way while holding the rope. (Photo by Suncheon City)

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 13th that it successfully concluded the 22nd Suncheonman Reed Festival over two days from the 11th to the 12th under the theme "World Heritage Suncheonman, Connecting Nature and People."

This Suncheonman Reed Festival is significant as the first resident-led festival held after the Suncheonman tidal flat was registered as a World Heritage site. It was organized by the Suncheonman Ecotourism Council and involved local residents and civic groups forming the "Suncheonman Reed Festival School" to maintain continuous communication with the residents.

The pre-ceremony performance featured about 60 residents from Daedae, Byeollyang, and other nearby areas of Suncheonman, along with Mayor Heo Seok and Chairman Heo Yu-in of the Suncheon City Council, reenacting the Suncheonman Dragon Tug-of-War.

The Suncheonman Dragon Tug-of-War is a traditional seasonal custom of Daedae Village that prays for a bountiful harvest and community harmony. The Nongak (farmers' music) parade led the way, followed by residents pulling the dragon rope together as they marched to the Suncheonman Wetlands.

Then, the tug-of-war began by hooking the loops of the male and female ropes, and the winning side comforted the residents with the sound of the funeral procession song.

The 2nd Korea Hakchum (Crane Dance) Festival was held at Suncheonman, where about 3,300 black cranes visit. Performance groups from five regions?Suncheon, Tongdosa, Ulsan, Yangsan, and Dongnae?showcased elegant dance movements, providing a moment to reflect on the conservation value of the cranes.

As the sun set among the reeds, young people’s busking performances and a song by Professor Park Seong-hoon of Suncheon National University, which conveyed ecological values, delivered a gentle emotional impact.

Additionally, various programs such as a photo exhibition depicting the lives of Daedae-dong residents, a winter migratory bird watching program near Suncheonman, and forums hosted by civic groups were organized, receiving great responses from participants.

A resident of Daedae-dong who participated in the pre-ceremony performance said, "This year’s festival was great because local residents gathered together to celebrate the World Heritage registration of the Suncheonman tidal flat and to reflect on the true meaning of a festival where residents are the protagonists."

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon said, "This festival is meaningful in that residents and civil society participated together in the preparation process and promoted it through direct democracy." He added, "Once the COVID-19 situation improves, we will continue the origins of the fading Suncheonman Dragon Tug-of-War and expand it into nationwide events such as the national tug-of-war competition."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.