Seongnam to Host New Year's Sunrise at Pangyo Madangbawi with Cheonje Ritual and Korean Traditional Music Performances

"Make a Wish at Sunrise"
Cheonje Ritual and Korean Traditional Music Orchestra Performance Also Held

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province will hold a sunrise event at the summit of Madangbawi in Pangyo Park, located on Geumto Mountain in Bundang District, at 6:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026.

Sunrise at Pangyo Madangbawi, Seongnam on January 1, 2024. Provided by Seongnam City

This event, co-hosted by the Pangyo Madangbawi Sunrise Festival Committee (Chairman Park Paengsu) and the Seongnam Cultural Center (President Kim Daejin), is organized to share hope and welcome the New Year sunrise together with citizens.

The sunrise is expected at 7:46 a.m., and a traditional Cheonje (ritual for the heavens) ceremony will be held to pray for the well-being of Seongnam citizens and the development of the local community.

Once the sun rises, there will be time for participants to make New Year's wishes and set new resolutions.

After the sunrise, the festival committee will distribute Garaetteok (cylindrical rice cakes) to citizens who joined the event at the entrance to the Pangyo Park hiking trail.

There will also be cultural activities such as traditional folk games including Yutnori, Tuho, and Jegichagi; a percussion performance titled "Taedong" by the Seongnam City Korean Traditional Music Orchestra; a New Year's celebratory song "This Is the Moment" by musical actor Kim Woosung; and a ritual dance "Giwonmu" by the Dance Jai Dance Company.

On January 1, 2024, at the Seongnam Pangyo Madangbawi Sunrise Event, a New Year's poem was recited. Provided by Seongnam City

Citizens wishing to participate in the event are advised to dress warmly in winter clothing and bring safety gear such as hiking boots, flashlights, and crampons.

However, as the Madangbawi area is narrow, crowd control measures may be implemented on-site to ensure the safety of participants if a large number of people gather.

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