Tamna Spring Awakening Festival in Jeju

Jejudo, the famous resort island of Korea celebrates “Tamna Ipchun Gut Nori,” roughly translated as “Spring awakening shaman dance of Tamna.” Tamna is an old name of Jejudo, which was once a kingdom to itself that existed from the Three Kingdoms’ Period (57 B.C. – A.D. 668) until it was fully taken over by Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

According to Jeju myth, “ipchun,” or the coming of spring, is known as the time for 18,000 spirits to descend from heaven to do their new year’s job on the earth. The time will be celebrated with a street parade, "gayageum" the traditional twelve-string zither and percussion playing, tightrope walking by intangible property number 58, an “anabana” market place that allows barter trade, calligraphy performance, tea ceremony and more. The Tamna ipchun Gut Nori, which is the indigenous shaman dance of the island, will stand out as a highlight of all other festivities.

The festival, whose history is as long as the kingdom of Tamna, was suspended during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) and the subsequent war and poverty. The festival was restored in 1999 with local communities determined to make up for the nearly 80 year-long gap.

The festival takes place over two days on February 3 and 4 at Jeju Mokgwana, Gwandeokjeong Plaza, Jeju City Hall and the streets of Jejudo.

Contact: Culture Division of Jeju City Hall: 064-728-2714
Korea Travel Phone: 1330 (Free interpreting service in English, Chinese, Japanese)
Website: (1)  Korea.net link (2) General tour to Jeju 
 

Full Moon Festival in Samcheok, Gangwon-do 

It’s the 37th Samcheok Daeboreum Festival in Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province) from February 2 to 6. The festival, which also celebrates the coming of this year’s first full moon, will start with New Year gilnori (road play), fireworks, food and above all, the region’s unique tug-of-war game designated an intangible cultural property.

There’s “gi tug-of-war,” like a normal tug-of-war, but the rope is arranged in a zigzag way like a crab’s leg (“gi” is a regional dialect of “gye” meaning “crab” in Korean) and “sulbi” a rope-making process for the tug-of-war which turned into a kind of folk play as well, making three holes on a wooden board and weaving a rope through it.

There’s also “sokdak-gi tug-of-war,” “jung-gi tug-of-war” and “dae-gi tug-of-war” which vary in the number of participants. The gi-tug of war was devised back in 1662 as a way to attract people to participate in building a dike.

This year 100 teams of 40 players composed of men and women will participate in the nationwide grand tug of war competition. The wining team will receive a 22 million won prize.

Arm wrestling, yunnori (a traditional board game), burning a “daljip” (moon house), drinking local specialty liquor and traditional rituals that pray for the well-being of the village will also take place with the participation of over 1,000 locals.

Contact: Cultural division of Samcheok City- 033-570-3224 (Korean language)
Korea Travel Phone: 1330 (Free interpreting into English, Chinese, Japanese)
Samcheok Festival Website (1) English (2) Korean 
Samcheok City Website: http://www.samcheok.go.kr/eng/ (English)


Chilseok Gossaum Festival in Gwangju

Gossaum is a kind of competition between the two sides similar to a tug-of-war using a huge straw rope known as a “go.” Each team carries the thick rope around. The team that forces down the other’s “go” wins.

Designated as cultural heritage item number 33, this is a famous folk play in Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province).

This year marks the 27th Gossaum Festival on February 8 and 9, together with side activities like photo opportunities, traditional Hanbok display, food sampling, "jwibulnori" (swinging burning coals around in a tin can), "ganggang suwollae" (traditional ring-a-ring dance) and others.

Contact: cultural division at Namgu, Chilseok Village in Gwangju at 062-650-7254 (Korean)
Korea Travel Phone: 1330 (Free interpreting: English, Chinese, Japanese)
Festival website: (1) English website of Namgu, Gwangju City
(2) Related page (3) Korean website 


By Kim Hee-sung
Korea.net Staff Writer