Grand Opening Ceremony of the 43rd Gyeongnam Folk Art Festival Held in Changwon

Over 470 Folk Artists from 12 Cities and Counties Across the Province Gather

Changwon Special City in Gyeongsangnam-do held a grand opening ceremony for the 43rd Gyeongnam Folk Art Festival, the largest gathering for Gyeongnam folk artists, at Yongji Culture Park in Changwon on April 14, 2026.

The 43rd Gyeongnam Folk Arts Festival. [Photo by Changwon Special City]

Hosted by Gyeongsangnam-do and jointly organized by Changwon City and the Changwon Cultural Center, the festival began amid enthusiastic support from leading folk artists representing 12 cities and counties in the province, as well as local citizens.

The opening ceremony was attended by Jang Geumyong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, Choi Hakbeom, Chairman of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Assembly, provincial and city council members, and heads of cultural centers from each city and county. The event was marked by an entrance ceremony, the return of the championship flag, and an official declaration of the festival’s commencement.

On the first day, April 14, the festivities began with a pre-ceremony performance, followed by dignified showcase performances from Goseong Nongak, the top team from the previous festival, and Changnyeong Simuguji Nori, the runner-up team. In addition, six representative teams from cities and counties—including Sacheon Jeokgu Nori and Jinhae Yeondo Women’s Funeral Song (Changwon)—took the stage in competition, captivating the audience with the essence of folk art that embodies the joys and sorrows of each region, filling Yongji Culture Park with vibrant melodies.

Now in its 43rd year, this festival is Gyeongnam’s premier traditional culture event, highlighting and re-evaluating the value of fading regional intangible heritage. Through competitions continuing until April 15, the final award-winning teams will be selected, and those receiving the top and excellence awards will earn the honor of representing Gyeongsangnam-do at the Korean Folk Arts Festival in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Jang Geumyong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, “It is deeply meaningful that this festival, showcasing the essence of Gyeongnam’s folk art, is being held in Changwon. I hope it becomes a venue for unity and communication where everyone can directly experience the beauty and excitement of tradition and share the preciousness of our culture.”

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