Byeokgolje ― The Oldest Reservoir in Korea
By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter
An endless stretch of golden rice paddies is ripening under the autumn sun in Gimje, North Jeolla Province.
The Byeokgolje Reservoir in Gimje is one of the representative irrigation facilities in Korea, along with the Uirimji Reservoir in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, and the Susanje Reservoir in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province.
Byeokgolje is the country's largest and oldest artificial reservoir. Thanks to the irrigation facilities, Gimje is considered the birthplace of rice-farming culture in the country, and has been designated as a ``rice town.''
According to the ``Samguk Sagi'' or ``The History of Three Kingdoms,'' the embankment was built in 330 A.D. by King Biryou of the Baekje Kingdom (18 -660 A.D.) and later expanded in 790 A.D. by King Wonseong. Old records also indicate the reservoir originally had five water gates. Byeokgolje measured 3,240-3,245 meters in length, 5.7 meters in height, and the water in the five gates flowed from east to west, south to north. Now, only two flood gates are left.
According to legend, a young maiden Danya dove into the flood waters of the Byeokgolje in order to save her lover, who was being swept away. Danya's noble sacrifice moved the two dragons, considered gods of the waters, to become the protector of the reservoir.
Since 1999, the city of Gimje has held a festival under the theme ``Korea's Only Horizon,'' with the goal of promoting the city and its rice products. The 11th Gimje Horizon Festival, which has been selected as the Best Festival in Korea for five consecutive years, opens today and runs through Oct. 13.
This year's event is being held at the Byeokgolje Reservoir. Visitors can participate in an ``ipseok'' (standing stone) tug-of-war competition, experience the austere life of Korean Confucian scholars and even harvest rice in the traditional manner. One of the most popular events is kite making and flying, including the Korean ``hanji'' (mulberry paper) stingray kite. Many will be flown over Byeokgolje at the same time, in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record. For information, call (063) 540-3324 or visit the Web site https://festival.gimje.go.kr.