Festivals and culture in Korea

Out of more than a thousand festivals celebrated in Korea, 44 ‘Culture & Tour Festivals’ have been selected for 2011 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism based on the festivals’ popularity, organization/management, uniqueness and development potential.

At the top of this year’s list of the 44 selected festivals are ‘Gangjin Celadon Festival’ highlighting the excellence and uniqueness of the Goryeo celadon, and ‘Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival’ featuring an extravagant parade of lanterns from different nations around the world. The ever-popular ‘Boryeong Mud Festival’ and ‘Andong Maskdance Festival’ have been appointed as Korea’s signature festivals after serving as the nation’s top festivals for three consecutive years since 2008.

One of the best ways to enjoy some of Korea’s tangible and intangible cultural assets is by attending one of Korea’s many vibrant festivals available through-out the year; many of which can be found on the calendar link: english.visitkorea.or.kr

Korea has in the last few years, has been successful in showcasing its heritage sites, outstanding natural legacies and intangible cultural assets. Many of which have been recognized by UNESCO; recently Korean traditional wooden architecture or ‘Daemokjang’, songs based on traditional poetry from the Chosun era or ‘Gagok’, and falconry have been included on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. (This followed the World Heritage Committee inscribing Korea’s 10th site on the World Heritage List: the Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong)

The intangible cultural heritage list was established to preserve diversity and creativity of humanity that are being rapidly lost in the wake of industrialization and globalization, hence the Cultural Heritage Administration decided to include three on the list.

With the latest addition,Korea now has 11 traditions on the list. The other eight are  the Royal Ancestral Ritual at the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (2001); The Pansori Epic Chant (2003); The Gangneung Danoje Festival (2005); Ganggangsullae Dance (2009); Namsadang Nori Performance (2009); Yeongsanjae Buddhist Ritual (2009); Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut Shaman Ritual (2009); and the Cheoyongmu Dance (2009).
 
For more information, visit: gokorea.co.uk