Royal Culture Festival to be held from 10th May in line with Cheong Wa Dae opening

연합뉴스 / 2022-04-27 14:56:49

▲ This photo, shows the Royal Culture Festival held in May last year. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, shows the 'Simkungsuimgung' from the Royal Culture Festival held in May last year. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, shows the Royal Culture Festival held in May last year. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- The "Royal Culture Festival," a cultural event held in the palace on a bright spring day, will be held for 13 days, starting with the opening festival on 10th May.

In line with Cheong Wa Dae opening, which historically is a backyard of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, various performances and experience events will be prepared around Cheong Wa Dae for the first time since the Royal Culture Festival held in 2015.

The Cultural Heritage Administration Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation announced on the 27th that they will be holding the "2022 Spring Royal Culture Festival" from 10th May till 22nd May at 5 major palaces including Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung palace along with Jongmyo and Sajikdan.

This year's theme is "Narye and Yeonhee." Narye is a traditional rite aimed at warding off evil spirits from royal courts and private houses on New Year's Eve according to the moon calendar. The festival presents a modern reinterpretation of these rituals performed in the royal court during the Joseon Dynasty.

The opening ceremony, which will be held at Heungnyemun, also known as the second gate into Gyeongbokgung, will have 550 visitors, unlike last year, which had no audience due to COVID-19. Additionally, Guna, a traditional ritual to chase evil spirits also conveys the wind of daily recovery.

Various performances and experience programs will be held at Gyeongbokgung palace after the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. on 10th May.

Tightrope performances and Modern Gugak (Traditional Korean Music) performances will be held in front of Nokjiwon (presidential garden) and Chunchugwan (government office during the Joseon Dynasty) where the grass is spread out. Historical performances and concerts including the reenactment of the ceremony of Naegeumwi (military unit during the Joseon Dynasty, responsible for protecting the royal family) being appointed as a warrior will also be held at Yeongbingwan (State guest house) and Chilgung (a collection of seven shrines where each shrine is dedicated to one of the seven concubines from Joseon times).

Other events including a tour of Cheong Wa Dae and Bugaksan mountain, "Gyeongbokgung backyard cultural heritage tour," which will have an interpreter explaining the relics and historical sites including Chimryugung, performance about the story of a Joseon magician, and a soap bubble experience is prepared.

In order to participate in these events held in the backyard of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, one must apply for a visit to the Cheong Wa Dae through online platforms such as Naver, Kakao Talk, and Toss in advance.

At the Heungnyemun Gate of the Gyeongbokgung palace, one will be able to see the multimedia performance, "Yeolsangjinwon" at night from 11th May till 14th May. The video produced under the theme of the history of Gyeongbokgung palace fills the night of the palace with colors along with beautiful music.

From the 20th to the 22nd of May, the palace musical "Sohyeon," which tells the story of Crown Prince Sohyeon, the eldest son of King Injo of the Joseon Dyansty, will be performed in Myeongjeongheon (Main hall of the palace). "Gunahaeng" will also be held in the alleys near the 5 palaces to perform the rituals of byeoksa along with "Simkungsuimgung," where one will be able to heal and meditate.

One can apply for participation in the events of the royal cultural festival including the opening ceremony, Sohyeon, Sumkungsuimgung, as well as the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour and Gyeokbokgung saengwabang during the festival period, through Interpark Tickets from 2 p.m. on the 29th of this month.

Online events are also planned. It will provide a kit for "Ssangnyuk," a Korean traditional fame from the Joseon dynasty and introduce other games including "Meeting Gung through Mark," which combines the original game, "Minecraft" and Deoksugung palace.

During the festival period, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung palace will be open without any holidays. On the opening day, the admission to the palace and Jongmyo will be free. Gyeongbokgung palace, on the other hand, will be free throughout the festival period.

Detailed information about the festival will be available at the website of the Cultural Heritage Administration Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.