The ‘2011 Spring Welcoming Exorcism of Tamna (Tamnaguk Ipchun Gut Nori)’ , a traditional folk festival of Jeju, will take place on Feb 11th & 12th. The festival is a time-honored celebration originally invoked to pray for good health as well as a bountiful spring harvest.

This year, the festival will feature a range of traditional gut (exorcism) rituals and celebratory events at Jeju City Hall, Gwandeokjeong Plaza and Jeju Mokgwana. Other interactive programs sharing the Korean cultural experience include: Samulnori, a Jijeon (Gime) exhibition, Mugu exhibition, Hanji (traditional paper) artwork, face painting, and folk martial arts demonstrations.

Other festival highlights are the traditional exorcism rituals called ‘Jejang Ullim (제장울림)’ and ‘Nangswekosa (낭쉐코사)’ performed to prevent bad luck and pay reverence to spirit gods. ‘Nangswekosa’, which embodies the meaning of this festival, is a traditional exorcism ritual originally performed by the King during the ancient kingdom of Tamna. Traditionally, the king performed the ritual on the day of Ipchun (the beginning of spring), by making ‘Nangswe (a sacred cow made of wood)’ and stringing golden rope around to prevent bad luck.

☞ 1330 tt call center: +82-64-1330 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)

* Government press release (February 9)