Jeongseon County's "Nampyeong Tobang House Building Play" to Represent Gangwon at Korean Folk Arts Festival

Held in Yeongdong County, Chungbuk, from September 26 to 27

The traditional folk game representing Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province, "Nampyeong Tobang House Building Play," will participate as the representative of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province at the 66th Korean Folk Arts Festival, which will be held in Yeongdong County, Chungbuk, from the 26th to the 27th.

The traditional folk game representing Jeongseon County, "Nampyeong Tobang House Building Play," will participate as the representative of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province at the 66th Korean Folk Arts Festival held in Yeongdong County, Chungbuk, from the 26th to the 27th. Provided by Jeongseon County

"Tobang House Building Play" is a folk art that has been passed down by the residents of Nampyeong-ri in Jeongseon, embodying the spirit of community and harmony in the village. The game transforms the process of constructing a "Tobang House"-a traditional mountain house built of logs and clay-into a performance. The wisdom and way of life of Nampyeong-ri residents, who have long lived cooperatively on broad and fertile fields, are vividly reflected in this tradition.

The play unfolds through various stages: selecting the house site, carrying logs, performing a ritual, leveling the ground, assembling the frame, holding a ridge beam ceremony, applying clay, raising the roof, attaching the chimney, and culminating in a communal celebration. Throughout these steps, traditional Jeongseon Arari songs, log-carrying chants, ground-tamping songs, and the rhythms of Nampyeong farmers' music are interwoven, enhancing the sense of realism. More than a simple game, it is regarded as a folk art that intensively showcases the cooperation and traditional culture of an agricultural society.

The Nampyeong Folk Game Preservation Association has continued this tradition since the 1970s by presenting the Tobang House Building Play annually at the Jeongseon Arirang Festival. The association remains at the center of efforts to protect Jeongseon's valuable cultural heritage. In preparation for this year's Korean Folk Arts Festival, members have been practicing intensively throughout September at the Nampyeong Elementary School playground to deliver a highly polished performance.

Notably, at 4 p.m. on the 21st, a departure ceremony for the Tobang House Building Play was held to wish for success in the competition. The event brought together officials, local cultural and arts organizations, and residents, who encouraged the participants and pledged their support for a successful performance.

The Korean Folk Arts Festival, which began in 1958, is the nation's largest traditional arts competition, where representative folk games from each region are showcased, highlighting the unique customs and culture of the Korean people. Jeongseon County's participation is expected to go beyond mere competition, serving as an opportunity to promote Gangwon Province's folk culture nationwide and to rediscover the value and appeal of Jeongseon's traditions.

Sim Jaebok, Director of the Jeongseon Cultural Center, expressed deep gratitude for the efforts of the Nampyeong Folk Game Preservation Association members who have worked to preserve the Tobang House Building Play. He added, "I hope that through our participation in this year's Korean Folk Arts Festival, Jeongseon's traditional culture will become more widely known, and that the wisdom and communal spirit of our ancestors will be passed down to future generations."

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