Yongin Special City Hosts 34th Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Special City held the '34th Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival' on the 7th at Cheoein Fortress in Namsa-eup, Cheoein-gu.

The 'Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival,' held to commemorate the 'Cheoein Victory' when Goryeo triumphed against Mongol invasions during the Goryeo era and to recall the patriotic spirit of General Kim Yun-hu, who killed the Mongol general Saliday, and the residents of Cheoein, consisted of a morning trumpet and drum corps parade entrance ceremony, martial arts performances by descendants of Cheoein residents, Cheoein Fortress busking, musicals, traditional tightrope walking and various other performances, and diverse experiential booths.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Lee Sang-il, Choi Young-chul, director of the Yongin Cultural Center, officials, and citizens, and proceeded with the relay of the Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival flags and lanterns by the Cheoein residents' parade group, national student thesis contest awards ceremony, and commemorative performances.

The city provided 50 million won in support for this year's Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival, while the Yongin Office of Education also invested 7 million won to set up booths promoting Cheoein Fortress and operate experiential programs.

In his address, Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "The reason we hold the Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival is to remember the patriotic spirit of our ancestors who repelled the Mongol forces with united strength during the national crisis in late Goryeo and protected the nation, and to continuously inherit their legacy so that this nation is never invaded again and to unite our efforts and renew our resolve." He added, "I am particularly impressed and grateful that students and youth from various schools in Yongin participated in today's cultural festival to learn about the great victory 793 years ago and the patriotic spirit, and to carry forward that legacy."

Last year, the mayor added English subtitles to the educational facility video, and plans to completely overhaul the video content next year to more vividly showcase the Cheoein Victory and present the significance of the victory in greater depth.

This cultural festival was organized by the Yongin Cultural Center, which received budget support from the city. More abundant and diverse experiential and educational booths were set up compared to last year, and various artistic performances and traditional play programs were operated together, receiving strong response from family-unit visitors.

At the event, diverse programs were held including 'traditional puffed grain snack experience' where visitors could experience Goryeo-era combat rations, a 'Cheoein Fortress experiential tour' with interpreters from the Yongin Cultural Center, archery experience with the Yongmoo Jeong group, and a 'Cheoein Fortress quiz history golden bell' competition, forming community culture based on historical and cultural heritage.

Cheoein Fortress is the site of victory during the second Mongol invasion of Goryeo that began in 1231. At that time, Saliday, who was advancing southward toward Chungju, was killed by an arrow from General Kim Yun-hu, allowing Goryeo to prevent the Mongol forces from advancing south of the Han River. It is thus a site of great triumph in the resistance against the Mongols and a place embodying the spirit of Cheoein residents.

The Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival began in 1986 as the 'Yong-gu Cultural Festival' and changed its name to the 'Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival' in 2010. It has gained local residents' support for its historical significance as the first place where Goryeo achieved victory against Mongol invasion warfare during the Goryeo era.

A city official said, "Through the successful hosting of the Cheoein Fortress Cultural Festival, we will continue to plan programs created with the participation of citizens and make better events through post-event evaluation."