Seollal Small Culture Festival: A Celebration of Korean Tradition

🗓️ 2025.01.28 ~ 2025.01.30

The Jeonju National Museum is set to host its 29th Small Culture Festival, a vibrant celebration coinciding with Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, in the year of Eulsa. This event offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in traditional Korean culture through a variety of engaging activities and performances. The festival will run from January 28th to January 30th, 2025, providing ample time to explore the rich heritage of the region.

Experiencing Tradition Firsthand

The festival’s program is designed to offer a hands-on experience of traditional Korean folk culture. Visitors can participate in a range of activities, including:

• Blacksmith Experience: Witness the fascinating craft of blacksmithing alongside a skilled artisan, gaining insight into this age-old profession.
• Traditional Folk Games: Engage in a variety of traditional folk games, providing a glimpse into the recreational activities enjoyed by Koreans in the past.
• Folk Painting: Delve into the world of Korean folk painting through a guided experience. Due to limited capacity, reservations are required for this activity.
• Pottery Experience: Discover the art of pottery making, a craft deeply rooted in Korean history. Similar to the folk painting experience, reservations are essential to secure a spot.
• Jisinbapgi Nongak Hanmadang (Earth-treading Nongak Festival): Enjoy the energetic performance of Jisinbapgi, a traditional Korean folk ritual performed to appease the earth god and ensure a bountiful harvest. This vibrant display of music and dance is a highlight of the festival.

Important Details

The museum will be closed on Seollal Day itself, January 29th, 2025, so plan your visit accordingly.

The festival is located at the Jeonju National Museum, situated at 249, Sukgogae-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province.

Admission to the festival is completely free, making it an accessible and enriching experience for all.

For any inquiries, you can contact the museum directly at 063-223-5651.

Planning Your Visit

For those traveling from afar, finding suitable accommodation is essential. You can explore a range of lodging options near the event through this link: 🛏️ Accommodation near the event.

The Seollal Small Culture Festival at the Jeonju National Museum offers a unique and immersive experience of Korean tradition, providing a memorable way to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Understanding Seollal

Seollal, or Korean Lunar New Year, is a major traditional holiday in Korea, marking the start of the lunar calendar. It is a time for families to gather, honor their ancestors, and celebrate the new year. The holiday spans three days, allowing people to visit their hometowns and spend time with family.

Several customs and traditions are observed during Seollal. A key ritual is "charye," a ceremony to honor ancestors by preparing and offering traditional foods. Families also practice "sebae," where younger members bow to their elders, showing respect and wishing for good fortune. In return, elders often give "sebaetdon," or New Year’s money, as a blessing.

Traditional games like "yutnori," a board game with wooden sticks, and "jegichagi," similar to hacky sack, are popular during this time. People also wear "hanbok," traditional Korean clothing, enhancing the cultural experience. Seollal is a period of joy and reflection, deeply embedded in Korean heritage and family values.