"400 Years of National Defense, Bridged by Art"... Gwangju City to Open Namhansanseong Cultural Festival on the 18th

Gwangju City to Commemorate 400 Years of the Fortress Wall
Festival to Take Place September 18-20 Across the Provincial Park
From Original Musicals, Tightrope Performances, and Daedong-gut
To Concerts by Ahn Yeeun and Historical Talks with Choi Taeseong

Namhansanseong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is being transformed into a grand cultural festival to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the fortress wall's construction, blending the breath of history with contemporary art.

Gwangju City and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Chairman Park Gwanyeol) will hold the 31st Gwangju Namhansanseong Culture Festival for three days from the 18th to the 20th around the Namhansanseong Provincial Park. The photo shows the 30th Gwangju Namhansanseong Culture Festival held last year. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Chairman Park Kwan-Yeol) announced on September 10 that the "31st Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival" will take place over three days from September 18 to 20 in the Namhansanseong Provincial Park area.

This year’s festival is designed to commemorate the historical significance and spirit of national defense that Namhansanseong has upheld over the past 400 years, and to provide citizens and visitors with hands-on experiences of cultural heritage. A wide array of programs will unfold throughout Namhansanseong, including: the opening ceremony, Sanseong Village, Art Market, Sanseong Sikgaek (food zone), Daedong-gut ritual, the Namhansanseong musical "Burning the Moon," guest performances by popular singers, Namsangdong tightrope performances, a mobile cinema, a "Namhansanseong Stories" talk with Choi Taeseong, a traveling library, the Sanseong trekking event, and ecological experiences in the fortress area.

This year’s festival is particularly special as it marks the 400th anniversary of the completion of the Namhansanseong fortress wall in 1626. The organizers aim to highlight the nation’s spirit of defense and the site’s historical value, and to deepen public appreciation of Namhansanseong’s cultural significance through a diverse lineup of performances and experiential events.

On the first day of the festival, September 18, the main stage at the South Gate parking lot will host the opening performance, “400 Years of Memory, Fortress Opening Tomorrow.” The 20-minute show will trace the 400-year journey of Namhansanseong, from its construction to its current role as a haven for citizens. Celebratory performances featuring fusion gugak (Korean traditional music) and popera will also be presented on stage.

Gwangju City and Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Chairman Park Gwanyeol) will hold the 31st Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival for three days from the 18th to the 20th at Namhansanseong Provincial Park. The photo shows the 30th Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival held last year. Courtesy of Gyeonggi Gwangju City

On September 19, the program begins with Daedong-gut—an ancestral ritual that inspired the cultural festival—followed by performances from the Gwangju Federation of Artistic and Cultural Organizations and the joint council of seven cultural centers in the Namhansanseong region. Pabal Geukhoe, a local performing arts troupe, will stage the original musical “Burning the Moon,” which is based on the fortress. This production is Gwangju City’s signature musical and won Best Play at the 2016 Korea Theater Awards.

That evening, singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun—known for her hits “I Am an Octopus” and “Lycoris”—and Lee Seunghyun, former member of the boy group M.pire, will perform celebratory concerts.

On September 20, the final day, there will be tightrope performances from local talent in Namsangdong and a traditional martial arts show. Namhansanseong’s traditional martial arts troupe “Muye Dobo Tongji” will deliver a performance commemorating the construction of the Sueo-dae guard post, General Lee Hoe, and the nameless warriors who defended the nation.

Also on the final day, the main stage will feature a thrilling tightrope act from a talented performer in Namsangdong, expected to draw cheers from the audience. At the Inhwagwan, visitors can participate in horse culture activities throughout the festival, while the traditional martial arts troupe Muye Dobo Tongji will present a demonstration at Sueojangdae honoring the unsung defenders of the fortress.

Gwangju City and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Chairman Park Gwanyeol) will hold the '31st Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival' for three days from the 18th to the 20th around Namhansanseong Provincial Park. The photo shows the scene from the '30th Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival' held last year. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City.

In the evening on the main stage, there will be a screening of the film "The Fortress" as part of the traveling cinema program, followed by "Namhansanseong Story" with star lecturer Choi Taeseong to conclude the festival. The session will offer an engaging and accessible analysis of Namhansanseong's true historical significance by comparing the historical accuracy depicted in the film with actual records.

Throughout the festival, the entire Namhansanseong area will be transformed into a living history site. In the traditional park, the “Sanseong Village” will allow visitors to enjoy games such as Tuho (arrow-throwing), Yutnori (traditional Korean board game), Jegichagi (hacky sack), and pounding rice cakes alongside Joseon-era characters. On the final day, there will be a special event where guests can take commemorative photos in hanbok, seated before a traditional throne and the Irworobongdo screen.

The Haenggung Palace will host a mobile library, while the South Gate parking lot will feature an art market with participation from local workshops and parents. Opportunities to experience the fortress’s beautiful natural surroundings through Sanseong trekking and ecological exploration will also be available.

Local merchants are participating as well. At “Sanseong Sikgaek,” a food experience zone in the South Gate parking lot, visitors can sample signature foods and specialty products from the Namhansanseong area in one place.

Gwangju City and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Chairman Park Gwanyeol) will hold the 31st Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival over three days from the 18th to the 20th in the Namhansanseong Provincial Park area. The photo shows the scene from the 30th Gwangju Namhansanseong Cultural Festival held last year. Photo by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

A festival official from the Gwangju Cultural Foundation commented, “This year’s Namhansanseong Cultural Festival, held to mark the 400th anniversary of the fortress wall’s completion, is a meaningful occasion to reflect on the people who have protected Namhansanseong and the value of its cultural heritage over four centuries. We hope everyone enjoys experiencing the significance of Namhansanseong through diverse programs that blend history, art, and the stories of our citizens.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.