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Namwon is closely associated with the story of Chunhyang. Somuch, in fact,that the city is known as Chunhyanggol, or Chunhyang Village.
The beautiful love story of Lee Mong-ryong and Chunhyang is now winning worldwide sympathy and recognition. In the memory of the faithfulness and chastity of Chunhyang, Chunhyang memorial rituals were held and eventuallydeveloped into the Chunhyang Festival with the following schedule.
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Festival Date :Friday, May 6, 2011 ~ Tuesday, May 10, 2011 |
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Venue : Gwanghallu Garden and parts of the city |
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Major Events : Chunhyang Memorial Service, Nationwide Miss Chunhyang Pageant, Chunhyang Traditional Korean Music Contest, Ssireum (Korean-style wrestling) Contest, Swing Play, Nationwide Pansori Singing Contest, etc. |
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Organizer : Chunhyang Culture Promotion Association |
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Phone : 82-63-632-5801 |
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In 1931 with Korea under the
Japanese colonial rule, leading personnel in Namwon,
backed by members of the city's giseng (traditional
female entertainer) association, raised funds and
installed the Chunhyang memorial service aimed at
promoting the national spirit and praising Chunhyang's
fidelity. This was further supported by giseng associations
in other cities such as Gaeseong, Jinju, Pyongyang,
Donnae, and Hanyang.
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Against such a backdrop, the Chunhyang spirit encouraged scholars in this region to embrace equality between men and women and rally together during the national crisis.
They did not succumb to the oppression of the Japanese police. Instead, they held the Chunhyang memorial service and patiently awaited national independence. They remained undaunted in seeking the nation's independence and promoting the national spirit. Also, the Chunhyang memorial service was officiated by a woman, a significant gesture.
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Sung Chun-hyang was born to a Sung identified
only by his family name and a retired woman entertainer named
Wolmae in Namwon, 1675 (during the rule of King Sukjong, the
19th king of the Joseon Dynasty). At 16 years of age, on May
the 5th (lunar calendar), she met Lee Mong-ryong, son of the
village's magistrate, at Gwanghallu Pavilion, and they pledged
their love. However, as Lee Mong-ryong moved to Hanyang following
his father's promoted assignment to Hanyang (Seoul), Chunhyang
was pressured to become a concubine to the newly assigned magistrate.
She flatly refused his demand and was jailed to be put to death.
At that time, Lee Mong-ryong appeared as a secret royal inspector
and saved her. |
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The story thus had a happy end.
The Chunhyang
Festival is held as the country's largest native festival to
promote the beautiful love between Chunhyang and Lee Mong-ryong,
Chunhyang's chastity, and the unyielding spirit resisting social
corruption and immorality. The Chunhyang Festival, which is
Namwon’s most famous festival, is held every year, with its
theme focused on love
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