Jindo's traditional folk culture has been celebrated in the historic district, establishing a festival that brings together residents and tourists.
Jindo County reported that approximately 10,000 visitors attended the '2026 Jindo County Treasure Island Cultural Arts Festival,' held from October 9 to 11 at Cheolma Plaza and the surrounding historic district.
This year's festival featured a variety of events centered on Jindo's rich folk cultural resources, including intangible heritage showcases, K-Folk Culture Night, the Jindo Silver Song Contest, the Jindo Drum Festival, and the Treasure Island Concert.
Notably, the festival expanded its scope beyond the central plaza to utilize the entire historic district, allowing attendees to engage directly and explore various local attractions.
On the second day, a folk culture festival themed 'Show Your Spirit!' took place.
The event included a joint performance of Arirang representing Jindo, Miryang, and Jeongseon, a 'Ganggangsullae Gathering' with 300 participants, and a calligraphy performance involving local residents, enhancing the celebration of regional traditional culture.
The historic district also hosted the 'Jindo Nagase' parade, featuring performances of Jindo drum dance, Jindo Dasiraegi, and Namdo Deulnori, with participation from local enthusiasts, children, and residents.
As the parade traversed the historic district, the usual living spaces of residents transformed into performance stages, allowing tourists to enjoy shows throughout the streets.
At Cheolma Plaza, performances included traditional music by Nam Sang-il, a gathering of three drum dance styles, and Jindo Sisitguk. The festival concluded with a large-scale Ganggangsullae event involving both residents and visitors.
Jindo County believes that the parade and cultural programs held in the historic district positively impacted local businesses by increasing visitor traffic and dwell time.
The festival's significance lies in its integration of folk arts into the everyday spaces of residents, rather than confining them to performance venues.
This event has been recognized for its potential to connect traditional folk art preservation and tourism with cultural arts and the local economy within a single festival space.
Park Sang-yul, head of the Jindo County Cultural Arts Division, stated, “This was a meaningful event where residents and tourists shared the vibrancy and charm of Jindo, confirming the strength of our local culture and arts. We will continue to develop this cultural arts festival into one that benefits both residents and the local economy by utilizing Jindo's rich folk cultural resources.”
Meanwhile, Jindo County estimates that around 10,000 people visited the festival during its duration. The county plans to further connect Jindo's intangible heritage and folk arts with tourism content and expand participatory programs in the historic district to foster a festival that revitalizes local culture and commerce.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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