JEONJU — The Jeonju Nambu Market and the Moijang area came alive on November 7 as they hosted the "2026 Jeonju Nambu Market Carnival."

Organized by the Jeonju operating group The Red Co., the event was part of the "2026 Jeonju-style Culture Jikgangso Project," which is sponsored by the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province and hosted by the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Foundation for Arts and Culture (led by President Baek Ok-sun).

The carnival served as a pilot cultural content initiative designed to transform traditional markets into dynamic public squares where everyday merchant stories and local issues are addressed through the arts. Since August, a steering committee comprising 15 members—including the Nambu Market merchant association president, night market managers, local artists, and planners—has gathered insights through neighborhood roundtable talks and street interviews to shape the event.

Blending Tradition and Festivities across Market Alleys

The day-long festival was structured around five core themes: "Beyond Defined Utility," "Places of Life," "Making a Living at the Market," "Living with the Old," and "A Space to Speak."

The festivities kicked off with the "From Square to Market" parade, starting at Pungnammun Gate at 5:00 PM, featuring local merchants playing traditional percussion alongside residents and youths. Throughout the evening, the market alleys buzzed with eclectic performances, including a silent disco, ambient DJ sets along the Jeonju stream, and light installations that re-imagined the night market atmosphere.

Highlighting Everyday Lives and Community Voices

Under the "Places of Life" theme, vacant storefronts and rooftops were repurposed to display local narratives. An empty shop was transformed into a bridal showroom furnished with goods sold directly in Nambu Market, symbolizing a young couple settling into the community. Meanwhile, an elementary photography club presented an exhibition capturing market life through the eyes of children, alongside large-scale puppet installations highlighting the perspectives of vulnerable groups.

Through "visible radio" broadcasts streamed live on YouTube, young residents discussed their thoughts on regional migration—exploring both why youth leave and why they choose to stay. Merchants and visitors also shared personal stories and song requests via local radio segments, while roving performance artists gathered impromptu dialogues from shoppers.

Sustainability and Public Discourse

The event also emphasized upcycling and civic expression. The "Living with the Old" program utilized discarded wedding fabrics and traditional hanbok scraps, turning them into practical items like aprons and lucky pouches through the hands of market tailors.

In the "A Space to Speak" zone, everyday citizens pinned their thoughts onto public message boards resembling election posters, and traditional storytelling performances offered a nostalgic touch to the public square. The day concluded with a grand finale gathering where participants reviewed the stories collected throughout the event.

The Red Co. team leader Park Kyu-hyun remarked, "This carnival was born straight from the voices of the market people. We hope this experiment of civic expression and artistic response serves as a stepping stone for the future of Nambu Market."

Foundation President Baek Ok-sun added, "We hope this carnival encourages citizens and youth to rediscover the market and discuss the region’s future together. We will continue striving to turn everyday questions into cultural arts and help youth find reasons to put down roots in their local communities."

Rooted in the spirit of the autonomous "Jikgangso" governance organizations established during the 1894 Donghak Peasant Revolution, the Culture Jikgangso project operates across four regions—including Jeonju, Namwon, and Gochang—empowering local residents and artists to tackle community agendas from the ground up. An integrated achievement exhibition is scheduled for December at the White Hanok House to showcase the year's outcomes.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]