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North Jeolla's hidden gems shine during October's culture month
Yu In-chon, center, minister of culture, sports and tourism, visits the Namwon Kimbyungjong Art Museum (NKAM), before attending the opening ceremony of the 2024 Culture Month celebrated in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
By Pyo Kyung-min
NAMWON, North Jeolla Province — The 2024 Culture Month celebration kicked off on Friday in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, officially designating October as Korea’s month for arts and culture. The event is spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The annual Culture Month has been designated every October since 1972 under the Framework Act on Culture, aimed at promoting public engagement in cultural activities.
As part of the month’s festivities, this year’s main event will take place at Namwon’s Gwanghallu Garden, a landmark selected by the ministry. The celebration will run for three days, from Friday to Sunday.
At the picturesque Wanwoljeong pavilion, located by a lake within Gwanghallu Garden, the weekend lineup includes a performance by traditional singing masters Wang Gi-seok and Lee Nan-cho; a joint concert by popular trot singer Song Ga-in and the Namwon National Gugak Center; and creative performances by the Namwon City Arts Troupe. A fusion performance blending traditional Korean music and jazz will also take the stage.
The official posters for the 2024 Culture Month festivities celebrated in Namwon, North Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences throughout the traditional garden. Highlights include traditional tightrope walking, a reenactment of a traditional Korean magistrate's procession, and hands-on experiences with traditional instruments. Food stalls will offer dishes made with local ingredients, providing a taste of Namwon's culinary heritage.
Culture Minister Yu In-chon attended the opening ceremony on Friday evening to celebrate the start of the cultural festivities in the southern region of the country.
"I've been completely immersed in the culture and arts of Namwon ... I hope Namwon will firmly establish itself as a city of cultural and artistic tradition," the minister said.
Yu In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivers a speech during the 18th Korean Traditional Music Festival, before attending the opening ceremony of the 2024 Culture Month celebrated in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Meanwhile, the minister also toured several cultural sites in North Jeolla Province prior to his opening address, where he explored ways to further promote the unique cultural identity of the region.
During his visit, he stopped by the Namwon Kimbyungjong Art Museum to see a special exhibition titled, "In Namwon." Opened in 2018, the museum features over 100 works by local painter Kim Byung-jong and offers free admission to visitors.
Yu also honored 56 individuals who have contributed to the preservation and development of traditional Korean music at the Akseongsa Shrine in Namwon. The commemorative event, led by the Namwon Municipal Gugak Orchestra, is an annual tradition in the city, known as the birthplace of pansori, the traditional Korean opera.
Artists perform at Seodo Station during the culture minister's visit in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Yu also visited the Honbul Literary House in Nobong Village, Namwon, the setting of Choi Myung-hee's unfinished epic novel, "Honbul"(1981-1998), where the minister viewed an exhibition of writer's personal manuscripts. The literary house, which opened in 2004, reopened in September following renovations to mark its 20th anniversary.
Yu concluded his visit at Seodo Station, another key setting from "Honbul," where he attended a contemporary dance performance.
Afterward, Yu stressed the importance of local culture, calling it a "vital link between the region's history, culture and people."
"We are committed to further enhancing the cultural value of the southern region of Korea and supporting regional revitalization through the power of culture," Yu said.