Residents of Sangmuryong 2-ri in Yanggu County, who have relied on boats for over 70 years, will celebrate their village festival at the new suspension bridge over Paroho Lake. The event aims to showcase the village's history and the lives of its residents to visitors.
According to Yanggu County officials, the Sangmuryong 2-ri village council will hold the 'Dancing Dragon Festival' on October 3-4 at the Sangmuryong suspension bridge area. The festival's name is inspired by the village's name, which translates to 'dancing dragon.'
The Sangmuryong suspension bridge is a 335-meter pedestrian bridge connecting Wolmyeong-ri and Sangmuryong 2-ri. It opened in August 2022 to provide access for residents after the construction of the Hwacheon Dam severed road connections. Some sections of the bridge feature reinforced glass, allowing visitors to see the lake below.
Residents will transform the area around the bridge into a festival space. Activities include a photo exhibition titled 'Memories of Seoho,' a treasure hunt along village paths, and a boat experience on Paroho Lake. Performances will feature ukulele, accordion, and rock bands, as well as line dancing, traditional drumming, and a senior model fashion show.
There will also be exhibitions and sales of local agricultural and forestry products, along with food stalls. The festival is organized and run by the residents themselves, aiming to introduce the scenic beauty and cultural life of Sangmuryong.
The festival will kick off on October 3 at 10 a.m. with a ceremony to declare Sangmuryong as a 'Promise Cube Village.' The Promise Cube is a creative project by artist Hong Seong-min that embodies the values of equality, peace, and coexistence. The village plans to give away Promise Cubes to the first 100 children who comment on a related blog post about the festival.
Park Hyun-jeong, head of the Yanggu County Tourism and Culture Department, emphasized the significance of the festival being prepared by residents, linking the suspension bridge with the village's history and culture. She expressed support for the festival's growth as a sustainable tourism content for the village.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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