Designation of ‘Goheung Madong Byeolsinje and Maegu’ as Jeollanam-do Intangible Cultural Heritage

Traditional Local Folk Games Preserved and Passed Down for Over 200 Years

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Jeong-woo] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced on the 21st that the "Goheung Madong Byeolsinje and Maegu" has been designated as an intangible cultural asset of Jeollanam-do.

On July 5th, Jeollanam-do held a Cultural Heritage Committee meeting and designated the "Goheung Madong Byeolsinje and Maegu," a traditional folk play passed down for about 200 years in Madong Village, Maryun-ri, Donggang-myeon, Goheung-gun, as an intangible cultural asset of Jeollanam-do.

The newly designated Madong Byeolsinje and Maegu is held every year on the 15th day of the lunar calendar at midnight (Jasi, 子時) at the "Chunggwangmok (忠剛木)," which is said to have been planted by Song Gan, the founding ancestor of the Yeo-san Song clan in Goheung. The ritual is performed in the form of a Confucian ceremony to pray for the village's prosperity and peace. In particular, the Madong Village Byeolsinje is attended only by men, who carefully prepare the procedures and food arrangements according to the "Byeolsinje Uijeol (別神祭儀節)."

The composition of Byeolsinje and Maegu is divided into Saemgut, Deuldangsan Gut, Byeolsinje, Madangbalgi, Pangut, and Mungut. The Madong Maegu Preservation Society was organized early on by village residents and local people, continuing the transmission activities with a clear lineage, and the society serves as a center for the village's unity.

Starting with the first generation Sangsoe Park Soon-dol, the second generation Kim Gye-ok, the third generation Jo Soon-myeong, the fourth generation Song Bong-gi, the fifth generation Song Gwon-seop, and currently the sixth generation Sangsoe Hwang Jae-jung have succeeded in leadership. The Jangsu (jing players) are Lee Mu-sul, Song Gwan-seop, Song Moon-seop, Song Bong-seok, and Song Kyung-ho, and the Beokgu players are Shin Dae-woo, Song Yoon-shin, and Song Ha-yoon. The Sangsoe and Jangsu are officially appointed through village meetings and passed down.

With the cultural asset designation of Goheung Madong Byeolsinje and Maegu, Beokgu player Song Ha-yoon (71), Janggu player Song Seok-rae (70), and Sangsoe Hwang Jae-jung (46) have been announced as holders, ensuring the continuation of the Madong Byeolsinje and Maegu tradition.

A Goheung-gun official said, "We hope that this intangible cultural asset designation will serve as a foundation for the village's development and harmony, and the interest and affection of the residents are urgently needed going forward."

Meanwhile, this cultural asset won the "Grand Prize" in the general division at the 24th Jeonnam Folk Arts Festival in 2019 and received the "Gold Prize" at the 23rd National Nongak Masters Competition held in video format in 2021.

Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr

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