Yangju City to Host ‘9th Yangju Hoeamsaji Royal Festival’… The Time of the Royal Family Reopens
Held from April 17 to 19 at the Hoeamsaji site... Evolving into a participatory festival featuring local artists and Buddhist culture
[Break News Yangju = Reporter Kim Wan-young] People are gathering once again on the path walked by kings 600 years ago in Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kang Su-hyeon). The ‘9th Yangju Hoeamsaji Royal Festival’ will be held from April 17 to 19 in the area of the Yangju Hoeamsaji site, where traces of King Taejo Yi Seong-gye of the Joseon Dynasty remain.
Under the theme ‘History on the Move Again, Toward World Heritage,’ this festival was planned to allow visitors to directly experience and understand the value of the Yangju Hoeamsaji site ahead of the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting to be held in Busan this coming July. In particular, this year, through changes across the entire festival such as the expansion of the royal procession, enhanced citizen participation, and the introduction of Buddhist cultural programs, we have planned a rich array of events as outlined below to transition from a "festival to watch" to a "festival to create together."
◇ A richer royal procession, a festival for everyone with citizen participation... The core of this festival is the significantly enriched royal procession.
The eve ceremony held at Okjeong Lake Park on April 17 will begin with the departure ceremony "Now, the Time of the Royal Family Returns," followed by the tribute procession and the royal procession. On the 18th, opening royal procession performances will take place across the city streets and the Hoeamsa Temple Site, connecting the entire city into a single stage.
This year's royal procession is characterized by expanded citizen participation and enhanced performance elements for each section, evolving into an experiential performance.
◇ Capturing the story of Hoeamsa Temple Site on stage through expanded thematic performances
The thematic performances that embody the historical significance of Hoeamsa Temple Site on stage are also drawing attention. The event features a convergence performance combining creative Pansori, musicals, media art, traditional martial arts, and dance. Moving away from the single performance centered on the opening ceremony, the event has been expanded to run for two days to broaden viewing opportunities.
◇ Operation of a Buddhist culture healing program featuring Seonmyeongsang and temple food.
A new Buddhist culture experience program reflecting the historical background of Hoeamsa Temple Site is also being offered. The plan is to convey the value of a healthy food culture and provide a time for healing through Seonmyeongsang experiences and lectures on temple food. In addition, content such as face painting and tea ceremony experiences has been designed to allow anyone to participate without pressure, minimizing religious overtones while allowing them to experience history and culture together.
◇ A "Learning Through Fun" festival event.
Hoeamsa Temple Site in Yangju is a historic site of immense value that has been selected for the UNESCO World Heritage Pending List. This festival is structured to help visitors naturally understand the value of Hoeamsa Temple Site.
In particular, the "Answer Tak!" event, conducted with Byeolsani... Various participatory programs have been prepared, including the ‘Bronze Bell OX Quiz,’ ‘Finding the 8 Secrets of Hoeamsa Temple Site,’ and ‘Reconstruct Hoeamsa Temple.’
◇ A Royal Festival Where Citizens Are the Main Characters… This Royal Festival incorporates opportunities for citizens to participate throughout the event.
At the eve of the festival, 13 citizen representatives from various fields will participate to mark the start of the event, and citizens will also directly participate in the royal procession during the main ceremony. In addition, street performances featuring local artists are scheduled to take place throughout the festival grounds. Through citizen-led events, visitors can vividly experience the charm of local culture and arts.
◇ A Festival Practicing ESG.
The Yangju Hoeamsa Temple Site Royal Festival is being promoted as a festival that practices the values of sharing and circulation through initiatives such as the operation of a Giver Market and eco-friendly experience booths. An official from Yangju City stated, “The Yangju Hoeamsaji Royal Festival is a representative festival of Northern Gyeonggi Province that possesses both dignity and entertainment,” adding, “We will do our utmost to make it a festival that everyone can enjoy and be satisfied with, and to widely promote Yangju Hoeamsaji to the world.”
This Royal Festival has been selected as a representative city/county festival for 2026, and detailed festival information can be found on the official website of the Yangju Hoeamsaji Royal Festival (https://yangju-hoeamsaji.co.kr/).
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Yangju Hoeamsaji Residents’ Council (Chairman Oh Heung-jin) plans to conduct a signature campaign throughout the event period to promote its inscription as a World Heritage Site.
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