Mapo-gu 1st Lycoris Festival 'Nanjibyeolgok, A Good Day to Love' Held

Gu, Haneulgongwon Metasequoia Road 1km Planted with 11 Herbaceous Species Including Flower Cluster Amaryllis and Lycoris, Creating a Specialized Street
Lycoris Festival... Heavenly Lighting Ceremony, Singing Performances, Talk Shows, and Various Experience Booths Including Life Four-Cut Photos

Nanjido is known by the notorious title of ‘the highest garbage mountain in the world,’ but originally, its name means an island beautiful with ‘orchids’ and ‘ground orchids.’

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) has taken the first step to comfort the decades of sorrow and tears of Mapo residents caused by Nanjido and to restore Nanjido’s beautiful old name by creating the ‘Nanjido Themed Tourist Forest Trail’ along the 1.6 km Metasequoia Road in Nanjido Sky Park, planting 370,000 herbaceous plants of 11 species including Lycoris radiata (red spider lily), Lycoris squamigera (surprise lily), and Liriope muscari (big blue lilyturf).

Mapo-gu announced that on the 8th, when the planted Lycoris radiata and Lycoris squamigera are expected to be in full bloom, it will hold the first red spider lily festival named ‘Nanjibyeolgok, A Good Day to Love’ on the ‘Nanjido Themed Tourist Forest Trail.’

The festival name ‘Nanjibyeolgok’ is derived from the Goryeo-era poem ‘Cheongsanbyeolgok,’ which expresses a desire to forget the worries of reality and live in a beautiful green mountain. This nickname symbolizes Nanjido’s rebirth as a beautiful attraction like a ‘green mountain’ after decades of pain.

The ‘Lycoris radiata’ and ‘Lycoris squamigera’ planted by the district have the flower language of ‘tender love’ because their leaves grow after the flowers fall, so the flowers and leaves never meet. Alongside the flower path, the ‘Poet’s Street’ displays over 50 poems that evoke touching feelings of love among lovers, parents, and friends, which is why the district set the festival theme as ‘love.’

The festival will be held on the 8th from 3 PM to 6 PM, divided into a pre-event and two parts.

Starting with a pre-event performance by ‘My Tong Band’ and local singers, about 500 residents will gather for the opening ceremony of the ‘2023 Red Spider Lily Festival Nanjibyeolgok,’ followed by the unveiling of a three-line acrostic poem video created by residents themed on ‘Lycoris radiata.’

Next, a three-person talk show titled ‘Middle Age, More Than Flowers (See)’ will be held featuring Mayor Park Gang-su, announcer Lee Jae-yong, and writer Yoo In-kyung. The highlight of the opening ceremony will be the ‘Heavenly Lighting Ceremony,’ symbolizing ‘a thousand red spider lily lanterns,’ which will beautifully decorate the autumn evening sky with lanterns.

The second part of the event will feature performances by singers Park Kang-sung, Haebaragi, and Namgung Ok-bun, evoking the emotions of the 70s and 80s generation, adding depth to the tranquil autumn evening.

In addition to performances, various experiential events suitable for all ages have been prepared. These include ▲‘Sop Market,’ a handmade crafts flea market ▲‘Caricature’ and ‘Calligraphy’ booths ▲a photo booth for ‘Life’s Four Cuts’ with the red spider lily flower field as the background, all prepared so that residents can remember the festival for a long time.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Nanjido, once stained with sorrow and tears, has been reborn as a landmark decorated with flowers and poetry that all residents can enjoy thanks to the love and dedication of Mapo residents.” He added, “Starting with this Mapo-gu Red Spider Lily Festival, I hope many residents visit here to replenish their tired and dry hearts with love amid beautiful nature.”

Mapo-gu plans to make ‘Lycoris radiata’ the representative flower of the Nanjido Themed Tourist Forest Trail and continue holding the Mapo-gu Flower Festival ‘Nanjibyeolgok ? A Good Day to Love’ every early autumn when the red spider lilies bloom.

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