Mayor Joo Gwangdeok: "Carrying On Dasan's Spirit... Developing It into a Namyangju Cultural Brand"

Namyangju City Successfully Concludes the 39th Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Cultural Festival
A Celebration Sharing Dasan's Values with Citizens
A Harmonious Blend of Tradition and Cutting-Edge Technology
Festival Receives Enthusiastic Response

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Joo Gwangdeok) held the 39th Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Cultural Festival at the Jeong Yak-yong Historic Site and Dasan Ecological Park over two days from October 18 to 19, providing a meaningful opportunity for citizens to reflect on the spirit of Dasan.

Joo Gwangdeok, mayor of Namyangju City, held the "39th Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Cultural Festival" on the 18th at the Jeong Yak-yong Historic Site and Dasan Ecological Park area. Provided by Namyangju City

Celebrating its 39th year, the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Cultural Festival was held under the theme "Beyond the Times, Again! Dasan," featuring events that reinterpret Dasan Jeong Yak-yong's philosophy of practical learning in a modern context. This year's festival, in particular, showcased a variety of programs blending traditional culture, cutting-edge technology, and the local community, receiving an enthusiastic response from citizens.

On the first day, international students and students from Kyungbok University, dressed in traditional scholar attire, marched in a procession following the traditional military band, signaling the start of the event. During the opening ceremony performance, Dasan's message was delivered by drone, symbolically representing the meeting of past and present. The awards ceremony for the "2025 Jeong Yak-yong Robot Competition," which had been held in advance, also took place, adding to the significance of the opening ceremony.

The festival was enriched with a variety of cultural and artistic performances and participatory programs. Students from Songchon Elementary School in Joan-myeon performed traditional farmers' music and choir, and National Intangible Cultural Heritage master Lee Janghak presented the "Seonsori Sandaeryeong" performance, creating a festive atmosphere. The elementary school history quiz show "Challenge! Jangwon Geupje" also received a great response.

Dasan's message is being delivered to the opening ceremony stage via drone. Provided by Namyangju City

On the second day, the "Gyeongse Yupyo Talk Show," hosted by economic trainer Kim Kyungpil, offered citizens a meaningful lecture that connected Dasan's philosophy with modern economic concepts. This was followed by the "Art on the Tightrope" performance by tightrope master Kwon Wontae, presented as a social contribution program by Crown Haitai and the Mecenat Association. The performance, held together with students from Songcheon Branch School of Sudong Elementary School, delivered a message of intergenerational harmony.

A variety of hands-on programs were also offered. At the "Jeong Yak-yong Future Workshop," children and youth were able to experience advanced digital technologies through activities such as 3D pen making, Geojunggi AR experience, and drone coding and FPV experience, sparking their curiosity. Meanwhile, the "Yeo Yunong Market" was held in the Dasan Ecological Park area, where young local farmers and small-scale farmers sold agricultural products and specialties, creating a venue for urban-rural cooperation.

Mayor Joo Gwangdeok stated, "We organized this cultural festival so that citizens could experience the scholarship and spirit of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong together," adding, "We will continue to carry on Dasan's philosophy of practical learning in a modern way and develop it into a cultural brand unique to Namyangju."

Before the opening, a traditional military band procession is taking place at the Jeong Yak-yong Historic Site. Provided by Namyangju City

Meanwhile, the 39th Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Cultural Festival was selected as the "2025 Gyeonggi Representative Tourism Festival" and as part of the "Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Support Project," further enhancing its status. The city plans to expand it into a leading humanities festival that promotes the "Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Brand" in the future.

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