Yeoju Background
Yeoju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yeoju was a county but was raised to the status of a city in September 2013. There have been human settlements in the Yeoju area since Paleolithic times because of archaeological excavations at Heunam-ri site, the fragments of herringbone patterned earthenware pottery, axe heads, and other artifacts have been discovered. Besides, the location on the Namhan River have been caused Yeoju geographically strategic area since the Silla kingdom. Furthermore, Yeoju is also home to Silleuksa, the only riverside Buddhist temple in Korea. Silleuksa was founded in 580 by the monk Wonhyo, one of the leading minds in Korean Buddhist tradition. It is home to a collection of 7 relics as well as a brick-constructed pagoda, one of only several in the country.
Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival
Nowadays, Silleuksa Temple Resort still annually hosts the Yeoju Ogok Naru Festiva l . This festival is a great place for visitors to see Yeoju’s argricultural and local products, such as rice, sweet potatos, peanuts and fruits. Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival is a combination of two festivals which are Yeoju Farm Festival and Sweet Potato Festival. The two festivals are based on Yeoju’s representative products, namely rice and sweet potato, respectively. There, not only can you enjoy and witness the old traditions and agrarian culture of Koreans but also can find Yeoju’s quality agricultural and local specialty products.
Programs:
– Ssireum (Korean wrestling) class
– Ssireum spectating
– Ssireum demonstration
– Ssireum contest
– Jumak experience (traditional Korean pub): Makgeolli (rice wine) tasting, bindae-tteok (mung bean pancake), sundae-gukbap (Korean sausage and rice soup), pajeon (green onion pancake) and others
– Blacksmith’s workshop
– Ride a Hwangpo sailboat.
– Jangteo (traditional Korean marketplace) experience
– Fly a traditional Korean kite
– Ogok Naru Singing Contest
– Ganammyeon Bonduri Nakhwanori: Ashes of burnt buckwheat straw and pine tree bark are wrapped in Hanji (traditional Korean paper) and floated in the air with string to decorate the night skies with dancing flames.
*Program details are subject to change and vary each year.
Address:
7, Silleuksa-gil, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Period:
10.28.2016 ~ 10.30.2016
Performance Times
11:00-20:00
Venue:
Silleuksa Riverside Tourist Site in Yeoju-gun, Gyeonggi-do
Admission/Participation Fees:
Free of charge
Additional Events:
– Ssangyong Tug-of-war
– Water Fireworks
Age Limit:
Open to visitors of all ages
Transportation:
[Bus]
From Seoul Express Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Yeoju (여주).
– Seoul Express Bus Terminal: schedule 06:30-22:00, at 30min intervals
– Dong Seoul Bus Terminal schedule: 06:30-22:30, at 30min intervals
(Subject to change)
Come out of Yeoju Bus Terminal and walk to the right for about 100 m, then take Bus 991, 993, or 992-1 from the bus stop in front of the post office. Get off at the Silleuksa Temple (신륵사) Bus Stop (5 stops, about 10-15 minutes).
Or, take a taxi to the venue from the bus terminal.
(3.5 km / the taxi fare will cost around 5,000 won / 9-12 min)
For more Info:
http://yjfestival.co.kr (Korean only)
Refferences:
cezzsykoreanophile.blogspot.com
english.visitkorea
Photo credit:
Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival Promotion Committee
