Perfect-Fit Namsadang Bawudeogi Festival
🗓️ 2026.10.02 ~ 2026.10.05
*The following food information is from the previous year’s (2025) festival; information for the 2026 festival is currently being updated.*
The Anseong Machum Namsadang Baudeogi Festival — known in English as the Perfect-Fit Namsadang Bawudeogi Festival — celebrates Namsadang Nori, a tradition inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. The festival takes its name and artistic direction from Baudeogi, the first female Kkokdu-soe (troupe leader) of the Joseon Dynasty, and from the spirited style of the Anseong Namsadang troupe. Held from October 2 to 5, 2026, it presents a wide-ranging program designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.
At the heart of the festival is the Anseong Old Market, a recreation of the bustling commerce that made it one of the three largest markets in the country during the Joseon Dynasty. Around that historical anchor, the festival gathers traditional culture experiences, performances by domestic and international traditional art groups, and overseas folk performances. Visitors can encounter the essence of tightrope walking (jultagi) and Namsadang Nori up close, and experience the charm of Korean traditional culture through performances that blend tradition with modernity. Admission is free, and the festival’s combination of history, culture, performance, and tourism has established it as a cultural tourism event enjoyed by domestic and international visitors alike — one of the Republic of Korea’s representative traditional culture festivals.
Festival Programs
Official Events
The festival’s official ceremonies mark the rhythm of the four-day program: a Memorial Service, the Eve Festival, an Opening Ceremony, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies that bookend the event.
Experiences
Hands-on and immersive experiences include the Baudeogi Theme Park and Baudeogi Culture Tour, which explore the legacy of the festival’s namesake, along with the Anseong Old Market and the Anseong Culture Market.
Exhibition/Promotion
The exhibition and promotion track features the Anseong Livestock Grilled Meat Zone, Agricultural and Livestock Product Sales, the Anseong Master Exhibition, the Baudeogi Light Festival, and the Global Studio.
Performances
The performance lineup is anchored by Namsadang Nori itself, alongside a Traditional Wedding ceremony, Geuk-nori (Traditional Play), and the World Heritage Masterclass.
Citizen Stage
The Citizen Stage brings the community into the program with the THE NEXT Baudeogi Contest, the Citizen Choir Festival, a 100-Person Saxophone performance, and the Citizen Art Stage.
Visitor Information
📍 Address: 198 Namsadang-ro, Bogae-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
💰 Fee: Free
📞 Inquiry: 031-678-5414
⭐️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baudeogi26/
🖥️ Homepage: https://www.anseong.go.kr/
Namsadang Bawudeogi refers to the performance tradition of Korea’s Namsadang itinerant troupes as carried forward through the legacy of Baudeogi, a female troupe leader from Anseong. In Korean, Namsadang means “male itinerant troupe.” For centuries, these traveling performers moved through the countryside, presenting music, acrobatics, comedy, and drama in village squares. Their repertoire included farmers’ band music (pungmul), plate-spinning (buna), acrobatics (salpan), tightrope walking (eoreum), masked dance (deotboegi), and puppet play (deolmi).
Baudeogi is the figure most often associated with Anseong’s Namsadang lineage. Born in the early nineteenth century, she led a troupe at a time when female leadership of such an organization was highly unusual. Contemporary accounts and later histories emphasize her skill on the tightrope, her quick wit, and her ability to manage performers and performances across several disciplines. Under her leadership, the troupe gained a reputation beyond its home region and performed for a wide range of audiences.
In present-day usage, Namsadang Bawudeogi refers to both the historical tradition and its continued practice. The performances are recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and transmission efforts in Anseong and elsewhere remain active. The Anseong Perfect-Fit Namsadang Bawudeogi Festival presents these forms to modern audiences. Its program is organized around the historical repertoire, and Baudeogi’s role is treated as central to the festival’s identity.
