Samcheok City to Grandly Open the "2026 Samcheok Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival" on the 27th

Samcheok City, Where Tradition Meets the Future
The Four-Day Journey of the "Samcheok Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival" Begins

Samcheok City in Gangwon Province will host the "2026 Samcheok Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival," centered on the Samcheok Gijuldarigi tug-of-war, which is inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and designated as Intangible Heritage No. 2 of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The festival will take place for a total of four days from February 27 to March 1 and on Jeongwol Daeboreum itself, March 3.

2026 Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival poster. Provided by Samcheok City.

This year's festival, held under the theme "Euracha! Samcheok Gijul! Pulling Tradition into the Future!", will combine participatory programs that span generations with Samcheok's unique cultural heritage to create a venue where tradition and modernity come together.

The opening ceremony will be held at 5:00 p.m. on February 27 at Expo Square. It will begin with the "New Year Wish Street Parade" in which citizens and tourists participate together, followed by pre-ceremony performances, a special celebratory broadcast performance by MBC, an aerial show, and fireworks to heighten the festive atmosphere.

Folk games and hands-on activities will also be abundant. In addition to traditional seasonal customs such as Daljip Burning, Mangwolnori (moon-viewing play), and Nakhwanori (fire-spark play), there will be tournaments for Yutnori, rope wrestling, and Jegichagi. Participatory programs such as Hanbok experience, traditional tea tasting, and family wish-writing will be offered so that everyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy the festival.

On Jeongwol Daeboreum, traditional ritual ceremonies such as Sanshinje (mountain spirit rite), Sajikje (earth and grain deities rite), Cheonsinje (heavenly deities rite), and Haesinje (sea deities rite) will be held to reflect on Samcheok's history and cultural identity.

A Samcheok City official said, "The Samcheok Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival is evolving beyond a simple local festival into a nationwide cultural festival where generations can enjoy together and carry on tradition," adding, "We will create a festival where both citizens and tourists can feel and relate to the charms of Samcheok."

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