A Celebration of Tradition and Art: Uljin County to Host the 49th Seongryu Cultural Festival

September 26-28 at Seongryu Cave and Yeonho Park
A Variety of Performances and Hands-on Activities

Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province (Governor Son Byungbok) will host the 49th Seongryu Cultural Festival from September 26 to 28 at the entrance of Seongryu Cave, Yeonho Cultural Center, and Yeonho Park.

The scene from the Seongryujehyang ritual last year. Provided by Uljin County

The Seongryu Cultural Festival, which began in 1977 as a community cultural event, aims to widely promote the cultural value of Uljin, a region renowned for its literary tradition and loyalty, and to foster the diverse development of local culture. This year’s event is also expected to offer Uljin residents a wealth of attractions and cultural experiences.

The festival will open on September 26 with the traditional Seongryujehyang ritual at the entrance of Seongryu Cave. Over the three days, a variety of events will take place, including the 23rd Uljin Bongpyeong-ri Silla Stele Calligraphy Competition (a national event), the 7th Uljin National Han Poetry Writing Contest, and cultural programs such as the Uljin Folk Janggi Tournament, student writing and drawing contests, and the inaugural Uljin Dialect Contest. There will also be exhibitions and hands-on activities such as art and photography exhibitions, wildflower displays, Geumgang pine woodworking experiences, pottery wheel classes, and family motto writing. In addition, visitors can enjoy folk performances, a traditional wedding reenactment, and concerts by invited singers throughout the three-day festival.

Exhibition of the Uljin Bongpyeong-ri Silla Stele Calligraphy Competition last year. Provided by Uljin County

Notably, this year’s festival will feature the Uljin traditional play "Uljin Sibi Ryeong Bajigaekkun Madanggeuk," a special performance of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage "Bokcheong Lion Dance," a classical music concert with bass Kim Daeyeop and soprano Lee Eunhee, an acoustic guitar performance by "Nokwoo and Friends," and the "Sound of a Millennium" performance by the Onnuri Arts Group, all of which are expected to captivate visitors.

Additionally, during the Seongryu Cultural Festival, the 35th Korea Bonsai Exhibition and the 2025 Autumn Leaf Art Orchid Exhibition will be held at the Uljin County Gymnasium and within Yeonho Park, respectively, providing even more attractions for Uljin residents.

Governor Son Byungbok stated, "I hope that through this Seongryu Cultural Festival, where tradition and art come together, both local residents and visitors will have a precious opportunity to experience the joy that Uljin’s history, nature, and culture have to offer."

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