Naju-si to Host 'Naju Hyanggyo Oji-ne Festival' on 15th-16th

Published 14 Oct.2022 10:09(KST)

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Han-hyeok] The city of Naju, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 14th that the ‘Naju Hyanggyo Oji-ne Festival’ will be held for two days on the 15th and 16th at Naju Hyanggyo and the nearby Naju Fortress Seoseongmun area.

The Naju Hyanggyo Gubeun Sonamu School is a regional cultural heritage utilization project hosted by Naju City, supported by the Cultural Heritage Administration, Jeollanam-do, and Naju Hyanggyo, and commissioned and operated by the Gubeun Sonamu School Center of Dongshin University (Center Director Jo Jun).

This festival is being held for the first time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the project’s operation, aiming to reexamine the historical and cultural value and significance of local cultural heritage including Naju Hyanggyo, and to foster it as a representative tourism resource brand of the region.

On the first day of the festival, the 15th, in the Seoseongmun area, a flea market sponsored by the Naju Eupseong Village Management Social Cooperative (Chairman Lee Myung-gyu) will be operated, along with lively street performances such as the yard play ‘Naju Cheonjibap’ (Nolbujeon), the ‘Children’s Gugak Performance’ by the Eorang Eorang Art Troupe, and the ‘Gilnori’ by the Pungmul group Asorang.

At Naju Hyanggyo, various ongoing experiences (some paid) will be offered, including ‘Traditional Wedding’ experience, ‘Traditional Games,’ ‘Rice Cake Pounding and Injeolmi Making,’ ‘Children’s Peddler,’ ‘Daeseongjeon 3D Puzzle Making,’ ‘Geumseongbyeolgok Woodblock Calligraphy,’ and ‘Learning Big Bow.’

The most notable program of this festival is the musical drama ‘Geumseongbyeolgok.’

The stage drama expresses the ‘Gyeonggichega’ (景幾體歌) written by Park Seong-geon, an educator at Naju Hyanggyo in 1480 (the 11th year of King Seongjong of Joseon), who was moved when ten of his disciples passed the lower civil service examination, through music, dance, and theater.

Directed by Yoon Jong-ho, artistic director of the Naju City Gugak Orchestra, it is ambitiously presented at this festival aiming to brand Naju Hyanggyo as a tourist attraction.

On the 16th, a ‘Calligraphy Contest’ and a special lecture by historian Shim Yong-hwan will be held at Naju Hyanggyo.

Center Director Jo Jun said, “We hope that this ambitiously prepared festival, aimed at branding Naju Hyanggyo, will widely promote the excellence of the regional cultural heritage utilization project and establish itself as a regional historical and cultural festival alongside the Mahan Cultural Festival.”

O In-seon, Jeongyo of Naju Hyanggyo, said, “This festival, held for the first time at Naju Hyanggyo, is richly prepared so that traditional culture can be seen, heard, and experienced,” and added, “We ask for the interest and visits of citizens and tourists.”