Uiryeong, Sacred Ground of the Righteous Army, to Host the 51st Hongui General Festival
by Joo Sooeun
Published 22 Mar.2026 17:16(KST)
From April 16 to 19... Held at Uiryeong County Citizens’ Park and Surrounding Area
The "Hongui General Festival," hosted by Uiryeong County, known as the "Sacred Ground of the Righteous Army," will be held from April 16 to April 19 at Uiryeong County Citizens’ Park and its surrounding area.
Celebrating its 51st edition this year, the Hongui General Festival marks a turning point as it embarks on a new leap forward beyond half a century. The festival carries the meaning of a "modern declaration," expanding the spirit of the righteous army from a historical legacy to a value relevant to today. The county envisions this year’s festival as the starting point for ushering in the next 100 years of the righteous army spirit.
The Hongui General Festival is Uiryeong’s signature historical and cultural event, honoring and experiencing the noble spirit of national defense embodied by General Kwak Jaeu-who led the first righteous army during the Japanese invasions of Korea-and the 17 commanders, as well as countless unnamed soldiers who defended the nation.
The festival, which had continued for 47 years as the "Righteous Army Festival," was rebranded in 2023 as the "Uiryeong Hongui General Festival." Since then, it was selected as an "Excellent Cultural Tourism Festival of Gyeongsangnam-do for 2024-2025," and its competitiveness was further recognized by being consecutively chosen for the 2026-2027 period.
In its 51st year, the county has adopted the slogan, "Righteous Army! Lighting Up the Future, K-Everyone’s Righteous Army," and has significantly enhanced the festival programs to move beyond simple observation, encouraging direct participation, enjoyment, and engagement with the spirit of the righteous army.
In particular, activities such as the Hongui Seodang, Hongui Tongbo Tour, Righteous Army Play Zone and Tournament, and Righteous Army Treasure Hunt Festa have been linked together in the form of board games, transforming the festival grounds into one large "game board." Visitors complete missions as they move through the space, allowing children and families to naturally experience the righteous army spirit as "future righteous army members."
The "Righteous Army Theme Street," which has been reconfigured as an interactive outdoor space, is also drawing attention. The festival’s immersive experience will be heightened through areas crafted with light and video, a program reinterpreting the Battle of Jeongamjin, and performances where righteous army leaders interact directly with visitors.
At night, the newly introduced "Uiryeong Hongui Night Tour: Night of the Red Legend" will be held. Visitors can walk along a route from the Righteous Army Tower-a symbol of the righteous army-to Chungiksa and the Righteous Army Museum, sequentially experiencing the expeditions, spirit, and history of the righteous army. The stories of the righteous army will unfold in a multidimensional way, offering a completely different atmosphere from the daytime.
The opening ceremony will feature powerful and unique "righteous army content," including a musical performance about the achievements of the Hongui General, a fireworks show titled "Righteous Army, Shouts of Victory," and a spectacular righteous army expedition parade with a thousand county residents in formation-all set to stir the hearts of visitors.
Uiryeong County plans to use this festival to recontextualize the righteous army spirit-not as a mere historical concept, but as a value of unity and solidarity that protected the community in times of crisis.
County Governor Oh Taewan stated, "The 51st Hongui General Festival marks the starting point for a new century of the righteous army spirit, going beyond half a century," emphasizing, "The righteous army is not just history but a spirit of the times that we must put into practice today."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.