The 72nd Baekje Cultural Festival kicked off in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, on the 3rd, embarking on a 9-day festival schedule.

Governor Park Soo-hyun attended the “Opening Ceremony of the 72nd Baekje Cultural Festival in Buyeo,” held at the main stage of Jeongnimsa Temple Site in Buyeo-gun on this day, to congratulate on the hosting of the event and welcome visitors who came to the festival grounds.

Amidst the attendance of key dignitaries including Governor Park and festival spectators, the opening ceremony proceeded in the order of the Sabi Transfer Procession, Jeongdo Goyuje (a ritual celebrating the capital transfer), theme and celebratory performances, and a drone art show.

At this venue, welcoming tourists who visited Buyeo, the ancient capital of Baekje, Governor Park emphasized, “We will properly foster the National History and Culture Zone Promotion Agency and establish Buyeo as the center connecting the nine history and culture zones of the Republic of Korea.”

He added, “We will also promote a premier night-time permanent performance of Baekje culture to revive the beauty of Baekje and make Buyeo a tourism city where people can stay and enjoy,” and “We will cause the dazzling history of Sabi Baekje to bloom even more brilliantly.”

The Baekje Cultural Festival is a representative provincial history and culture festival held annually in Buyeo and Gongju to revive the history and culture of Baekje and widely publicize its value. This year, it runs from the 3rd to the 11th.

In Buyeo this year, under the theme “Beautiful Baekje, Radiant Sabi,” various programs are being promoted across the Buyeo downtown area, including rituals and Buddhist services such as Gocheonje, traditional folk performances, the Buyeo Artists' Madang, Sabi Autumn Trot, overseas exchange performances, the exciting Baekje Yeonhidan, world fusion instrument performances, media art, and exhibitions and experiences.

In Gongju, under the theme “Bronze Mirror, Illuminating the Light of 1,500-Year Baekje,” centered around the Gongju Geumgang Sin-gwan Park, Gongsanseong Fortress, and the royal downtown area, a variety of programs are being showcased during the festival period, ranging from rituals such as the collection of the Baekje Honbul (spirit fire) and various performances like the Woongjin Fantasia “Bronze Mirror,” to educational, exhibition, and experiential programs including the Baekje Cultural Festival academic conference.

The province plans to continuously promote the expansion of stay-over tourism resources by linking the Baekje Cultural Festival with Baekje history and culture resources such as the UNESCO World Heritages of Gongju and Buyeo, attracting domestic and foreign tourists, and revitalizing the local tourism industry.

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