Cherry blossoms at Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Thu, December 7, 2023 | 08:58

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Cherry blossoms at Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival

Posted : 2023-04-20 00:44

Updated : 2023-04-20 16:50

A man holds a lantern during the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, April 1. / Courtesy of Derek Winchester

By Derek Winchester

Cherry blossom season came early to Korea this year. While many of the country's usual blossom festivals were caught off guard and had to reschedule their events forward, others not typically timed with the spring occurrence had a lucky break.

One of them was Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, from April 1 to 2.

Cherry blossoms are seen during the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, April 1. / Courtesy of Derek Winchester

The festival returned after a few years of hiatus due to the pandemic. Locals were eager to come out to meet acquaintances they may have not seen during the winter and forge new friendships. In this age where you can see the world through a computer screen, being actually at a place involved in an activity makes things more real. We get to feel the petals from the blossoms falling on our faces. We get to hear the actual plucking of the strings of a "gayageum" and talk to the musician. We get to smell the cooking of the vendors in the kiosks on the festival grounds. These things excite our memories more than a jpeg on a screen could. Festivals like this give a feeling of being connected to a community that is hard to find anywhere else.

A gayageum player performs during the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, April 1. / Courtesy of Derek Winchester

Wangin, the great scholar that the festival commemorates, was a fascinating figure. In the fourth century during the Baekje Kingdom, he went to Japan to teach and became very influential there ― so much so that there is another festival for him there as well. One of the places in Gurim Village notes where Wangin made a statement that showed he could live in the moment. He commented that he might never return here.

A large costume of Wangin, a fourth-century scholar, is seen during a parade at the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, April 2. / Courtesy of Derek Winchester

One of the highlights of the festival was a moonlight walk through Gurim Village with a knowledgeable guide who explained the importance of traditional houses. Then the gayageum player started her song and a hush fell over the crowd. Afterward, telescopes were brought out so people could get a closer look at the moon. Finally, it was concluded with the lighting of lanterns to that last important place where Wangin said goodbye to Korea. The walk was worth it.

A percussionist participates in a musical parade during the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, April 2. / Courtesy of Derek Winchester

On the second day, a parade was held in the area. The welcoming atmosphere could be seen on the faces of the participants as they danced to the music of the marching bands, both traditional and modern. Even the police that were there to direct traffic had smile on their faces as the celebratory wave washed over the valley.

A flower seller poses for a photo during the Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival held in Gurim Village, South Jeolla Province, April 2. / Courtesy of Derek Winchester

Though the cherry blossoms are already all but gone, they reminded us of the old cliche that you have to stop and smell the flowers. Time is fleeting, and we have to remember to enjoy the moment we are in and not worry about the future or the past.

Derek Winchester is an assistant professor at Korea University who has lived in Korea for almost 15 years. He helped start the Flickr in Seoul Photography club. His photography can be found at on Instagram @vistaviewfinder and at flickr.com/photos/derekwin. He would like to thank Korea Travel Mate for arranging the trip to Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival.

derekwin13@hotmail.com

jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr