Former Chunhyang titleholders head to Namwon's Heungbu Festival to promote local culture

The Chunhyang Ambassador network, which promotes Namwon's culture and tourism, will carry out a range of promotional activities at the 34th Heungbu Festival.
Namwon City in North Jeolla Province said on the 9th that 15 former Chunhyang titleholders will take part in the Heungbu Festival, which runs through the 11th at Gwanghalluwon and along the Yocheon riverside in Namwon.
The Chunhyang Ambassador network maintains ties between Namwon and former Chunhyang titleholders selected through the Chunhyang Selection Contest, and promotes regional festivals, traditional culture and tourism resources.
The “Chunhyang Ambassador at Namwon's Heungbu Festival” event will take place from the 10th to the 11th at Sarangmaru in Namwon Yechon, Gwanghalluwon and areas around the festival site.
On the 10th, Kim Hye-sun, a master hanbok artisan and Namwon City ambassador, will give a lecture at Sarangmaru in Namwon Yechon on the theme “Namwon, connected through hanbok; connecting the world through culture.” Hong Shin-hwa, head of the international exchange team at the Institute for Intangible Cultural Studies, an incorporated association, will then introduce ways to compile records related to past Chunhyang titleholders as cultural assets.
Evening activities will include creating content about the significance of Gwanghallu's elevation to National Treasure status, trying out the Heungbu Festival's Swallow Market and Swallow Store, promoting the festival on social media, and experiencing Namwon beauty products.
On the 11th, a program called “Chunhyang Beauty with the Chunhyang Ambassadors” will be held at a goods shop in Gyeongoe Shopping Arcade to showcase Namwon's appeal to residents and tourists.
This year's Heungbu Festival, themed “Goodness Leads to Success,” will run through the 11th at Gwanghalluwon and along the Yocheon riverside. Five themed areas based on The Tale of Heungbu will feature traditional performances, family activities, food and a market for agricultural and specialty products.
A Namwon City official said, “The Heungbu Festival will be an opportunity for former Chunhyang titleholders to show the world another side of Namwon's appeal.” The official added, “We will continue to collect and organize records related to Chunhyang and preserve them as valuable cultural assets of the region.”
[email protected] Jeong Sun-min Reporter