"Distribution of 3,000 Silkworms"... Seocho-gu's 'Jamwon Naru Festival' on the 19th

Jamwon Where Ferries Crossed and Silkworms Were Raised
Resident-Led Festival Full of Attractions

Children are experiencing feeding silkworms mulberry leaves. Provided by Seocho-gu.

A scene of a Joseon Dynasty queen directly raising silkworms on mulberry leaves will be reenacted in Seocho-gu. Seoul Seocho-gu (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will hold the ‘Jamwon Naru Festival,’ themed around silkworms, on the 19th at Jamwon Sports Park near Exit 4 of Jamwon Station.

The name ‘Jamwon (蠶院)’ originates from the area's history of raising silkworms and producing silk threads. This area had many farms cultivating mulberry trees and practicing sericulture, and it was located by the Han River with a ferry dock. Additionally, a national sericulture office was established here in the early Joseon period.

The Jamwon Naru Festival has been held since 2012 to promote the origins and traditions of Jamwon-dong and to foster community harmony, marking its 10th anniversary this year. Notably, this year the festival, organized by the Jamwon-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee, is held alongside the Seoul Silk Road Cultural Festival (hosted by Eco Hub), a Seoul Metropolitan Government private festival support project, adding further significance.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The highlight is the reenactment of the ‘Queen’s Silkworm Raising (Wangbi Chinjam, 親蠶)’ ceremony and tribute transport performance starting at 12:45 p.m. Chinjam was a traditional ritual in which the Joseon queen picked mulberry leaves and raised silkworms, symbolizing the importance of sericulture and encouraging its practice.

The ‘Queen’s Silkworm Raising’ ceremony lasts about 15 minutes, with residents and children dressed in traditional costumes performing ▲a show announcing the queen’s silkworm raising ritual ▲the leaf-picking ceremony (Chaesangrye, 採桑禮), where mulberry leaves are picked and fed to silkworms ▲the award ceremony (Bansangrye, 頒賞禮), reporting the silkworm cocoon production results to the queen ▲and the cocoon offering ceremony (Sugyeonrye, 收繭禮), presenting the harvested cocoons to the queen.

After the chinjam ceremony, a ‘tribute transport performance’ is presented. Historically, Jamwon Naru was a ferry dock on the Han River connecting Chungcheong and Yeonghonam regions and providing routes north to Yongsan and Seobinggo, through which many people and goods traveled, from the king to commoners.

To commemorate this historical background with residents, participants dressed as boatmen humorously reenact the past by carrying rice sacks from a ferry boat set up behind the stage. Visitors can also board the ferry boat crafted by a master craftsman, enjoy Polaroid photo sessions, and experience traditional costumes, allowing them to feel the atmosphere of a ferry dock in the heart of the city.

Additionally, a ‘Silkworm Ecology Experience Center’ will be open during the event to stimulate children’s curiosity. Here, children can observe colorful silkworms, feed mulberry leaves, and make cocoon necklaces. This year, the festival has prepared a total of 3,000 silkworms to distribute to visitors (up to 5 per person, while supplies last), allowing them to observe the silkworm life cycle for about 25 days.

Alongside this, there will be demonstrations of weaving looms, silk thread extraction experiences, exhibitions of various items including hanbok made from fine silk, and tastings of mulberry leaf ice cream and mulberry leaf tea. Experts will also provide education on the growth process and uses of silkworms related to sericulture.

Cultural performances and side events will also take place. On the main stage, there will be a magic bubble show, a performance by Sindong Elementary School orchestra, taekwondo demonstrations, and magic shows. Side events include the Jamwon Play Yard (traditional games, mini Viking ride), an eco-friendly beverage truck (free drinks provided if visitors bring their own cups), and an arm wrestling championship.

District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “I hope that this year’s 10th Jamwon Naru Festival will establish itself as a representative local cultural festival that preserves the history and significance of Jamwon-dong and strengthens community harmony.”

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