The Gangneung Danoje Committee announced on the 30th that Chodang-dong has been selected as the 'Village of the Year' for the 2025 Gangneung Danoje Sintongdaegil Gilnori. This selection is significant as it enhances the status of the Sintongdaegil Gilnori, a core program of the Gangneung Danoje, and promotes participation and harmony within the local community. Chodang-dong received high praise from the judges for its creative performance, which involved about 100 residents utilizing local specialties, tofu and seaweed.
What is Sintongdaegil Gilnori?
The Sintongdaegil Gilnori is a citizen-participatory parade considered the highlight of the Gangneung Danoje. It takes place immediately after the Yeongsinhaengcha, the procession bringing the Guksaseonghwangsin and Guksaeyeoseonghwangsin to the Danoje festival grounds. Residents from all 21 eup/myeon/dong (towns/townships/neighborhoods) of Gangneung City directly participate, offering diverse spectacles based on each village's unique folklore and characteristics. This large-scale event, involving over 3,000 residents and attracting more than 50,000 spectators annually, plays a crucial role in fostering pride among Gangneung citizens and preserving traditional culture.
Beyond being a simple parade, this event serves as a communal festival that re-examines the history and culture of each village and strengthens bonds among residents. From the preparation stage, residents actively participate by brainstorming ideas, making costumes, and practicing dances and performances. This is also one of the best examples of 'citizen participation,' a key reason why Gangneung Danoje was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Sintongdaegil Gilnori is becoming a living tradition through the active involvement of local residents, showing richer and more dynamic aspects year after year.
2025 Sintongdaegil Gilnori Judging Process
A total of 37 teams competed fiercely in this year's Sintongdaegil Gilnori. The judging was carried out by a 14-member evaluation panel consisting of advisory committee members and cultural and artistic organization officials. To ensure fairness, the evaluation team divided the parade route into a "red carpet" section and a general parade section, with each accounting for 50% of the score. In the red carpet section, the originality and completeness of each team's costumes, props, and performances were primarily evaluated. In the general parade section, the overall harmony of the procession, the unity of the participants, and the ability to create a festive atmosphere through interaction with citizens were mainly observed.
The judges commented, "The diverse performances, each embodying the individuality and stories of the villages, were impressive," and "Especially, the passionate participation of residents, voluntarily taking part, further illuminated the value of Gangneung Danoje." Given the intense competition, each team invested significant time and effort from the planning stage of their performances, leading to a high-level competition.
Chodang-dong's Success Factors
Chodang-dong demonstrated overwhelming unity with the participation of approximately 100 residents. Crucially, they creatively expressed their village's life and culture by utilizing Gangneung's representative local specialties: tofu and seaweed. Rather than simply listing the specialties, they strengthened their storytelling by incorporating into their performance the process of making tofu and the scenes of fishermen harvesting seaweed.
The residents created costumes in the shape of tofu models and seaweed, showcasing diverse dances and movements using them to capture the audience's attention. For instance, choreography expressing the softness and savory taste of tofu, and performances depicting the swaying of seaweed and the vitality of the sea, left a deep impression on the judges. Furthermore, Chodang-dong clearly revealed its village identity through a performance that harmonized nature and communal spirit. This was praised for well embodying the balance of tradition and modernity, as well as the value of local community, which the Gangneung Danoje pursues.
A representative of Chodang-dong residents stated, "This is the result of residents gathering for months, brainstorming ideas, and practicing diligently," adding, "We are delighted that this award allows us to widely promote Chodang-dong's history and cultural value." Their passion, effort, and love for their region combined to bring them the honor of being named 'Village of the Year.'
Awards and Future Plans
As the 'Village of the Year,' Chodang-dong will be awarded a championship banner and granted the right to lead the 2025 Gangneung Danoje Sintongdaegil Gilnori. This is not merely an honorable position but holds symbolic meaning, marking the beginning of next year's Gilnori. Chodang-dong is expected to lead the atmosphere of the 2025 Gangneung Danoje Sintongdaegil Gilnori from the front, satisfying audience expectations with an even more powerful performance.
The award ceremony will be held on the last day of the Gangneung Danoje, in Surimadang, on the evening of June 3rd. The ceremony will honor Chodang-dong's hard work and celebrate the successful hosting of the Gangneung Danoje.
The Gangneung Danoje Committee announced that through Chodang-dong's selection, they plan to further activate citizen participation and enrich the content of the Gangneung Danoje by discovering the unique cultural assets of each eup/myeon/dong. They also stated that they will continue to provide support and effort to ensure that the Sintongdaegil Gilnori establishes itself as a representative festival parade of Gangneung.
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