Gwangju City’s flagship event, the 31st Namhansanseong Culture Festival, is being held from September 18 to 20 at Namhansanseong Provincial Park.
According to the city, this year’s festival commemorates the 400th anniversary of the fortress's construction, aiming to reflect on its historical significance and provide citizens and visitors with various programs to experience the cultural heritage of Namhansanseong.
During the festival, activities include an opening ceremony, Sanseong Village, an art market, tightrope walking from Namchang-dong, the original musical “Burning the Moon,” Daedong Gut, a mobile cinema, storytelling sessions about Namhansanseong with historian Choi Tae-sung, ecological experiences, and trekking.
The opening ceremony took place on September 18 at the main stage in the South Gate parking lot, featuring performances by the Gwangju City Gwangjiwon Nongak Band and a hanbok fashion show, followed by a show themed “Memories of 400 Years, Opening Tomorrow’s Fortress.”
Celebratory performances by the popera group Piran and the fusion traditional music team Soyu also took place.
On September 19, the festival featured Daedong Gut, which is the origin of the Namhansanseong Culture Festival, along with cultural performances from the Gwangju Arts Council and a joint performance by seven cultural centers in the Namhansanseong area.
The Pabal Theater Company presented the original musical “Burning the Moon,” and singer-songwriter Ahn Yeo-eun and vocalist Lee Seung-hyun also performed.
On the final day, September 20, visitors can enjoy tightrope walking from Namchang-dong and traditional martial arts performances by the Namhansanseong Traditional Martial Arts Group.
In the evening, a mobile cinema will screen the film “Namhansanseong,” accompanied by a talk show with historian Choi Tae-sung, revisiting the history and significance of the fortress's 400th anniversary.
Various hands-on experience programs are also available.
At Inhwagwan, visitors can participate in horse culture experiences, while at Chimgwaejeong, traditional tea and sweets will be served during a tea ceremony demonstration.
Sanseong Village offers traditional games such as tuho, yutnori, and jegichagi, along with four-cut photo booths, rice cake pounding, and pumpkin smashing.
At the Haenggung, programs include a library for reading, bookmark making, balloon painting, and calligraphy.
Additionally, the Sanseong Art Market showcases local crafts and artworks, while the Sanseong Foodie introduces local delicacies. Ecological experiences and trekking that explore history and nature also attract attention.
To ease traffic congestion around Namhansanseong during the festival, shuttle buses are operating between the event venue and key locations.
Visitors expressed their enjoyment of the combination of history, performances, and hands-on activities.
One attendee, identified as Kim, remarked, “It was great to experience traditional games with my children, and it was a time to learn about the history of Namhansanseong naturally.”
Another visitor, Lee, noted, “It was nice to visit with family, not only enjoying the performances but also walking through this historic site.”
A representative from the organizing foundation stated, “We hope this festival provides an opportunity for citizens and visitors to experience the history and culture of Namhansanseong up close, and we will continue to create programs that highlight the value of this cultural heritage.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.