Daegu City Councilor Kihoon Kwon Proposes Renaming "Dansan Heritage Park" to "Arirang Heritage Park"

Reevaluating the Value of Daegu Arirang
Honoring the Legacy of Choi Gyeran

Kihoon Kwon, a member of the Daegu City Council (People Power Party, Dong-gu District 3), will propose during a five-minute free speech at the second plenary session of the 316th extraordinary meeting on April 22 that the name of Dansan Heritage Park be changed to "Arirang Heritage Park" as a way to establish Daegu Arirang as a representative cultural asset of the region.

Arirang, which naturally developed over many years within the lives of ordinary people, is Korea’s most representative folk song and a cultural heritage symbolizing Korean identity and community spirit. Recognized for its historical and cultural value, Arirang was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012 and is currently designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, preserved and passed down through generations.

Kihoon Kwon Daegu City Councilor

Daegu also has its own unique version of Arirang, known as "Daegu Arirang." This song was composed during the Japanese colonial period by Choi Gyeran, who was from Bongmu-dong. It reflects the lives and emotions of Daegu citizens during turbulent times and is a valuable local cultural heritage that embodies the joys and sorrows of the people as well as the spirit of the era.

However, Daegu Arirang remains relatively unknown within the local community, and systematic efforts are needed to rediscover, preserve, and pass on its historical and cultural value.

In response, Councilor Kwon stated, "There is a need for a symbolic place where we can reflect on the identity of Daegu Arirang and share the musical achievements and spirit of Choi Gyeran with the citizens." He argued that, since Choi Gyeran’s birthplace is nearby and the Arirang Festival is held at Dansan Heritage Park, the park’s name should be changed to "Arirang Heritage Park" so that it can symbolically embody the spirit and history of Daegu Arirang.

He also called for the "Choi Gyeran Arirang Festival" to be designated as a representative cultural event of Daegu City and urged the city government to provide active support to ensure the festival’s sustainability and diversify its content.

Councilor Kwon stated, "Renaming the park as 'Arirang Heritage Park' and revitalizing the 'Choi Gyeran Arirang Festival' will serve as an official turning point to newly establish the status of Daegu Arirang and carry on its spirit."

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