'11th Baekam Baekjung Culture Festival' Held Until the 13th, Celebrating Farmwork with Food and Drinks

Yongin Special City (Mayor Lee Sang-il) announced on the 11th that the '11th Baekam Baekjung Culture Festival,' which aims to inherit the region's traditional culture and strengthen community solidarity, will be held for four days from the 11th to the 13th at the Baekam-myeon Administrative Welfare Center in Cheorin-gu.

Mayor Lee Sang-il attended the opening ceremony on the 11th, the first day of the festival, presenting commendations to two individuals who contributed to the promotion of the Baekjung Culture Festival and the preservation of local traditional culture.

Mayor Lee Sang-il stated, "The Baekam Baekjung Culture Festival is a meaningful tradition where ancestors who took root and lived here encouraged each other's hard work in farming, strengthened friendship, and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the village. I extend my gratitude to the residents of Baekam and members of the Baekjung Culture Preservation Committee who have carried on this tradition to this day."

Baekjung is a traditional rural custom where farmers take a break from their farm work around the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, sharing food and drinks and enjoying various games.

In the Baekam region, centered around the Baekam five-day market, which has become famous for its national-scale cattle market and rice trading, residents have traditionally gathered on Baekjung day to enjoy unique folk games such as farming dance (nongak) and wrestling.

To preserve this tradition, the region established the 'Baekam Baekjung Culture Preservation Committee' in 2011 and held the first Baekam Baekjung Culture Festival on October 29 that year, and is now celebrating its 11th festival this year.

On the 11th, the first day of the festival, the opening ceremony and various events were held, including traditional ancestral rites (goyuje), a poomba competition, jiggyeong-dajigi (field boundary stamping) performance, and group karaoke contests.

On the 12th, the second day, pungut (farmers' dance), Yongin City residents' autonomous performances, Baekam farming songs, performances by living artists, and the '2nd Baekjung Youth Arts Festival' will be held. On the final day, the 13th, Baekam residents' autonomous performances, a popular song festival, Korean traditional music festival, and the Baekjung popular song contest will take place.

천의현 대표이사 euihyun@suwonilbo.kr