Gwangmyeong Cultural Center Successfully Concludes Ori Cultural Festival, Sharing the Spirit of Integrity of Yi Wonik with 10,000 Citizens

34th Ori Cultural Festival Concludes Successfully

Enthusiastic Response to Citizen Participation Programs

Including Joseon Olympics, Official Carriage Procession, and Integrity Golden Bell

Gwangmyeong Cultural Center (Director Yoon Youngsik) shared the spirit of integrity of Yi Wonik, a renowned historical figure, with around 10,000 citizens at the Chungheon Museum and the Gwangmyeong Citizen Gymnasium area on May 8 and 9.

Gwangmyeong Cultural Center (Director Yoon Youngsik) shared the spirit of integrity and honesty of Yi Wonik with over 10,000 citizens on the 8th and 9th at Chungheon Museum and around Gwangmyeong Citizen Gymnasium. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

The Ori Cultural Festival is a civic cultural event held in honor of Yi Wonik, Gwangmyeong’s most prominent historical figure known for his integrity. This year, the festival was organized around citizen participation programs.

On May 8, Chungheon Museum hosted the ‘Ori Yeongu Memorial and Flower Laying Ceremony’ in tribute to Yi Wonik. Participants paid their respects and expressed their remembrance by offering chrysanthemums while enjoying a geomungo performance, an instrument that Yi Wonik was fond of.

On May 9, the marble plaza at Gwangmyeong Citizen Gymnasium was transformed to evoke the atmosphere of the Joseon Dynasty, where a variety of programs were held, including exhibitions, hands-on experiences, performances, and parades highlighting the integrity and achievements of Yi Wonik.

In the morning, special events such as ‘Defeat the Yeot Vendor!’ and ‘Photo Mission! Find Hwang Jini’ took place, alongside a special exhibition on the traditional ‘gat’ hat, a gat-making workshop, and an experience program for crafting traditional Joseon bows.

For the first time this year, the ‘Joseon Olympics’ was introduced, featuring five traditional games: Tuho (arrow-throwing), Ddakji (paper tile flipping), rolling a hoop, long rope jumping, and folk top spinning, all of which received enthusiastic responses from participants.

In the afternoon, a procession reenacting Yi Wonik’s official carriage journeyed from the Insaeng Plus Center to Gwangmyeong Citizen Gymnasium.

This was followed by a special performance from the Lee Sang Band, citizen-participation events with storytellers, the traditional play ‘The Tale of Prime Ministers,’ and the ‘Challenge! Integrity Golden Bell’ quiz competition, offering opportunities to share the values of integrity and local history.

The festival concluded with an awards ceremony. At the 5th Ori Yi Wonik Integrity Awards, Kim Gwangseop, a director at the Gwangmyeong Office of Education, received the grand prize. In the ‘Challenge! Integrity Golden Bell’ awards, Kang Geon from Cheolsan Elementary School received the Mayor’s Award, while Kang Bomin from Anhyeon Elementary School and Jang Jiyu from Gwangil Elementary School received the National Assembly Member’s Award. Won Chaea from Anhyeon Elementary School was presented with the Cultural Center Director’s Award.

Gwangmyeong Cultural Center worked closely with Gwangmyeong Police Station, the local Marine Corps Veterans Association, and volunteers to ensure safety and order throughout the event, successfully concluding all activities with the mature participation of citizens.

Yoon Youngsik, Director of Gwangmyeong Cultural Center, said, “This year’s Ori Cultural Festival reinterpreted the accomplishments and values of Yi Wonik, the epitome of integrity during the Joseon Dynasty, into a modern festival. We will continue to discover and develop a variety of attractions and experiences that utilize Gwangmyeong’s cultural assets.”

Choi Hyemin, acting mayor (deputy mayor) of Gwangmyeong, stated, “The Ori Cultural Festival has established itself as a representative cultural event for sharing the history and traditional culture of Gwangmyeong with its citizens. We will continue to support citizen-centered cultural events that leverage local historical and cultural resources.”

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