The 65th Miryang Arirang Grand Festival Held at Yeongnamnu and Miryang Riverside

Operation of Programs Worthy of the Government-Designated Cultural Tourism Festival Reputation

Miryang City in Gyeongnam announced that the ‘65th Miryang Arirang Grand Festival,’ a government-designated cultural tourism festival, will be grandly held from the 18th to the 21st at Yeongnamnu, boasting the finest beauty in Korea, and along the Miryang Riverside.

The 65th Miryang Arirang Festival Held
[Image provided by Miryang City]

The Miryang Arirang Grand Festival originated from the 1st Miryang Cultural Festival held in 1957 to commemorate the major restoration project of Yeongnamnu. It is based on the loyalty of Saimdang, the wisdom and virtue of Kim Jong-jik, and the pure spirit of Arang Nangja. The festival has continued its 65-year tradition and is the representative festival of Miryang City.

Under the slogan “Look at the Day, See Miryang, Miryang Arirang in the World,” it is being prepared with various programs in conjunction with the 2023 Miryang Visit Year.

The festival features the ‘Miryanggang Odyssey,’ which is growing into a performance representing not only Miryang but also South Korea, and the ‘Arirang Theme Pavilion,’ where visitors can experience Miryang Arirang at a glance.

The ‘Miryanggang Odyssey’ is the core content, utilizing the historic and cultural spaces of Yeongnamnu and the Miryang River, the best scenic spots, and unfolds as a live spectacular musical show.

Under the subtitle ‘Song of the Sword,’ a magnificent musical show is presented, telling the stories of General Park Wi, who led the conquest of Tsushima Island at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty; Woonshim, a master of sword dance who moved Joseon beyond Miryang; and Yun Se-bok, who vowed for independence.

The ‘Arirang Theme Pavilion’ discovers and introduces Miryang Arirang spread worldwide. It is an exhibition-style pavilion that introduces the history of Arirang and the grand festival, allowing visitors to view all published materials at a glance. In the participation, performance, and listening content areas, Arirang audio tracks can be heard through headsets. There are quiz programs to spark children’s interest in Arirang, talk concerts with storytellers, and photo zones set against the backdrop of Miryang’s eight scenic spots.

New programs such as ‘Arirang Maze’ and ‘Arirang Wonderland’ provide fun for both children and adults, immersing them in missions and the world of innocence.

At Arirang Wonderland, ▲past-themed traditional games such as jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking), ttakji chigi (card flipping), tuho (arrow throwing), and floor gonu (traditional board game) are offered; ▲present-themed programs allow participants to feel Arirang with their whole body; and ▲future-themed content is organized around three themes: exhibition, performance, and experience, encompassing past, present, and future generations.

The Miryang Arirang Creative Contest is expected to produce fresh and unique creations by reimagining Miryang Arirang from a modern perspective, moving beyond the perception of it as a folk song. The Miryang Arirang Singing Contest features performances by master singers who sing as close as possible to the original Arirang audio, culminating in fierce competition on the festival’s final day.

The Miryang Cultural Festival, the origin of the Miryang Arirang Grand Festival, hosts various competitions such as art, theater, calligraphy, and writing contests organized by eight cultural and artistic groups.

The National Unity Arirang is a performance that unites the people under the theme of ‘unity’ through Arirang. The first part features a pungmul (traditional percussion) play, binari (ritual chant), and Arirang, bringing people together through Arirang. The second part includes special performances such as Arirang janggu (hourglass drum) nanta (rhythmic drumming), the traditional music band Nalda, and Odanhae performances, allowing audiences to deeply experience the national song, Arirang, which can be considered a second national anthem.

The Miryang Arirang Song Festival features passionate performances by eight hidden talents, along with spectacular and rich stages by Ailee, the queen of live performances; Shin Yu, known as the adult BTS; and Seodo Band, which enjoys a perfect blend of tradition and modernity.

At the Future Agriculture Pavilion, which showcases the charm of Miryang agriculture, policies and support for returning farmers and rural residents are promoted, and related agricultural institutions such as the Southern Crop Division of the National Institute of Crop Science are introduced. Activities include meal kit experiences, sales of fresh local agricultural specialties, and distribution of Miryang agricultural processed souvenirs.

Food trucks and local restaurants promoting Miryang cuisine nationwide will also operate. Programs include intangible cultural heritage performances and joint Nongak (farmers’ music) presentations.

Shuttle buses operate on two routes every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., providing convenience to tourists by connecting the Miryang Arirang Art Center to the event venue and the Miryang Station KTX transfer parking lot to the event venue.

The Miryang Arirang Grand Festival, designated as a government cultural tourism festival from 2020 to 2023, has attracted about 420,000 visitors annually, greatly contributing to the revitalization of the local economy. This year, as the ‘2023 Miryang Visit Year,’ more diverse programs reflecting Miryang’s culture have been prepared.

Mayor Park Il-ho said, “As a prestigious festival designated by the government as a cultural tourism festival, I hope not only Miryang citizens but also people nationwide visit the festival site and fall in love with the charm of the Miryang Arirang Grand Festival.”

Meanwhile, Miryang City is steadily preparing so that tourists visiting the festival can enjoy it safely by establishing a systematic disaster response and safety management plan and preparing well-organized programs that consider safety from the planning stage of the festival.

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