Connecting literature with tourism

Buckwheat field in Pyeongchang, site of the Hyoseok Cultural Festival and birthplace of 20th-century novelist Lee Hyo-seok / Courtesy of Lee Hyoseok Literature Promotion Association

Pyeongchang to host festival for leading 20th-century novelist

By Do Je-hae

A cultural festival honoring the legacy of Lee Hyo-seok (1907-1942), a leading 20th-century novelist, will take place starting Friday in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province.

The nine-day event is a unique opportunity to learn about the culture and history of Pyeongchang, which in recent years has become a popular tourist destination ahead of the Winter Olympic Games to take place in the mountainous region in 2018.

“We are hoping to establish the Hyoseok Cultural Festival as one of the key cultural activities on the sidelines of the 2018 Pyeongchang Games,” an organizer said.

The festival has been an important addition to the cultural growth of Pyeongchang, home to the biggest chamber music festival in Asia, the Great Mountains International Festival & School (GMMFS) led by violin virtuoso Chung Kyung-wha.

A traditional dance performance at the Hyoseok Cultural Festival

The Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism selected Hyoseok Cultural Festival as a model regional festival this year for the first time since the event’s establishment in 1998. The ministry sees the event as a good example of nurturing a literary community into a tourism destination.

The best part of the festival is the stroll along the endless stretch of buckwheat fields.

The highland town of Pyeongchang is well-known as Lee’s birthplace and for the ravishing buckwheat flowers that fill the region in autumn.

The festival commemorating the novelist, the author of “When the Buckwheat Blossoms,” offers various programs in the buckwheat village.

Programs include performances of traditional folk plays, reenactments of traditional marketplaces, performances of traditional and modern music and dance, and writing contests. Visitors will also have a chance to taste local specialty dishes made from buckwheat flour.

“When the Buckwheat Blossoms,” Lee’s trademark work set in Bongpyeong in Pyeongchang County, is famous for its beautiful expression of the natural beauty of the region.

The festival places priority in competitions in poetry, paining and calligraphy, as well as literary symposiums and lectures. There are many attractions for international visitors.

For more information, call 033-335-2323 or go to www.hyoseok.com.

Hyoseok Festival

◇Dates: Sept. 5-Sept. 14

◇Programs

Educational experience programs, writing contest, traditional marketplace, costume parade, food sampling

◇Admission: free

◇Details:

www.hyoseok.com