11th Baekam Baekjung Culture Festival Held from 11th to 13th, Sharing Food and Drink After Farm Work

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

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

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

Baekjung is a rural tradition in which farmers, working in fields and paddies, would pause their busy work around the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, rest, share food and drink, and enjoy various games.

In the Baekam area, centered on the Baekam 5-day Market, which is known nationwide for the largest scale cattle market and rice trading, a tradition has been maintained where residents gather on Baekjung day to enjoy unique folk games such as nongak (traditional farming music) and ssireum (Korean wrestling).

To inherit this tradition, the region established the 'Baekam Baekjung Culture Preservation Committee' in 2011 and held the 1st Baekam Baekjung Culture Festival on October 29th of the same year; this year marks the 11th edition.

On the 11th, the first day of the festival, the opening ceremony, a traditional ritual (gohyu), a poomba (busking) competition, jigyeong-dajigi (ground-stamping) performance, and group singing contests were held.

On the 12th, the second day, pungut (farmers' music and dance), a Yongin City residents' autonomy performance, Baekam farming songs, community artists' performances, and the '2nd Baekjung Youth Arts Festival' will take place. On the 13th, the final day, performances by Baekam residents, popular song events, traditional Korean music events, and the Baekjung Popular Song Festival will unfold.