'Gwanak Gang Gamchan Festival' Makes a Grand Return with Over 240,000 Visitors

[Gwanak-gu News] Historic and Cultural City Gwanak Establishes Itself as Korea's Representative Goryeo History and Culture Festival & Festival Praying for the Well-being and Peace of All Inspired by National Hero Gang Gam-chan from 1000 Years Ago & Gang Gam-chan Song Festival "Nakseongbyeolgok" and Fantasy Performance "Nakseongyeonhui" Brightly Decorate the Autumn Night

2022 Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival 'Nakseong Yeonhui' Rising with the Stars

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Approximately 240,000 people visited the '2022 Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival,' held from October 14 to 16 around Nakseongdae Park in Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee), concluding amid much praise.

The festival, returning in person after three years, offered a rich array of sights, from a small village recreating the Goryeo Dynasty to dazzling displays blending 'stars' and 'light' throughout the area. Food trucks featuring world cuisines, cultural experience zones, busking performances, and art festivals attracted great enthusiasm and high interest with diverse food and entertainment options.

In particular, the festival honored the residents overcoming COVID-19 and flood damage by calling them the 'General Gang Gam-chan' of this era, sharing timeless spiritual values across generations.

The festival opened with the memorial rite for General Gang Gam-chan, ‘Inheonje,’ and the energetic ‘Gwanak Youth Festival.’ On the 15th, the festival’s highlight, the Gang Gam-chan Song Festival ‘Nakseong Byeolgok,’ and the fantasy-themed performance ‘Nakseong Yeonhui’ added grandeur and excitement.

The Gang Gam-chan Song Festival, featuring the ten finalists, included congratulatory performances by singer Lee Ja-yeon and musical actress Kim So-hyun, as well as a children’s Nanta performance by ‘Little Gang Gam-chan,’ allowing visitors ranging from their 20s and 30s to families to enjoy together.

Additionally, ‘Nakseong Yeonhui,’ based on the birth legend of General Gang Gam-chan, beautifully combined music, dance, a spectacular laser show, and a drone show, brilliantly illuminating the autumn night.

Large-scale resident participation programs also stood out. The ‘Gang Gam-chan Golden Bell’ quiz contest attracted 300 participants nationwide, and the finals of the large-scale human janggi (Korean chess) competition ‘Jangiyo! Meongiyo!’ involving all 21 neighborhoods of the district culminated in a fierce battle, with Seorim-dong winning the championship.

At the ‘Goryeo History Forum,’ a talk show was held with Professors Lee Ik-ju and Seo Kyung-duk, providing residents an opportunity to learn about Goryeo history. Graduates of the Gwanak Cultural Foundation’s citizen cultural planner training course led various on-site experiential programs, realizing a resident-led festival.

Notably, this festival also carried the purpose of supporting flood recovery efforts following recent heavy rains. Residents made donations for flood recovery and took photos while hanging their wishes on wish tags at the ‘Byeolbyeol Photo Zone.’

Funds raised through the ‘Byeolbyeol Photo Zone’ and the pre-festival donation program ‘Mood-up Small Donation Box’ will be fully donated to flood recovery support, and part of the proceeds from the flea market and food trucks at the festival site will also be used as donations.

A participant named Hong said, “I joined because I thought it was a commendable festival practicing sharing and coexistence.” Thanks to residents’ generosity, the festival became a meaningful time emphasizing ‘everyone’s well-being and peace,’ rather than just simple entertainment.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Despite difficult circumstances, the Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival, returning after three years, was successfully completed thanks to the active participation and cooperation of many residents. I hope we can overcome hardships and accelerate the recovery of daily life by inheriting General Gang Gam-chan’s spirit of broad-mindedness,” adding, “We will strive to establish the Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival as a representative Goryeo historical and cultural festival not only in Seoul but throughout Korea.”

The ‘Gang Gam-chan City’ Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) successfully concluded the ‘2022 Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival,’ held from October 14 to 16 around Nakseongdae Park, with great participation.

On the 15th, the festival’s signature programs?the Gang Gam-chan Song Festival ‘Nakseong Byeolgok,’ promoting community harmony, and the fantasy performance ‘Nakseong Yeonhui,’ interpreting General Gang Gam-chan’s birth legend through drone and laser shows?brightly illuminated the autumn night.

As the first in-person event in three years, reflecting residents’ expectations, the festival featured presentations from the 21 neighborhood community centers and a human janggi (Korean chess) competition to select Gwanak-gu’s janggi champion, making residents the stars of the stage.

Notably, the festival also incorporated the purpose of supporting flood recovery from recent heavy rains through the ‘Happier the More You Share Flood Recovery Support Program.’ Residents donated funds for flood recovery and took photos while hanging their wishes on wish tags at the ‘Byeolbyeol Photo Zone.’

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Despite difficult conditions, it was a meaningful time sharing comfort and joy thanks to the active participation and cooperation of many residents. I hope we can overcome hardships and accelerate the recovery of daily life by inheriting General Gang Gam-chan’s spirit of broad-mindedness.”

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