A group of dancers performs a traditional fan dance in front of an illuminated stone pagoda during one of the midnight concerts this past summer in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do Province.
The Midnight Cultural Heritage Program (문화재 야행), after a promising first-year run, will pick up again next year with more exciting events on its calendar.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) announced that in 2017, the series of midnight concerts, events and performances will feature 18 programs organized by 13 districts and provinces from across the country. In addition to the 10 shows that were performed this year, including Seoul’s Jeongdong Culture Night and Busan’s Heritage Night, there will be eight new programs to enjoy under the stars next year.
Families release colored lanterns into the night sky during the Gyeongju Heritage Night in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, this past summer.
Seoul will be adding the Seongbukdong Heritage Night to the program calendar, giving visitors a chance to explore the historical Seongbuk-dong district of the capital. Other additions to the midnight program include the following: Incheon’s Nighttime Stroll (밤마실), Gwangju’s Midnight Promenade (빛고을 달빛걸음), Suwon’s Midnight Tours in the Fortress City (밤빛 품은 성곽도시 수원야행), Gongju’s Touring Gongju, Cultural Heritage City (세계유산도시 공주야행), Gochang’s Exploring Cultural Roots Tour (뿌리 깊은 역사·문화 향(香)을 담는 야행), Andong’s Woryeonggyo Bridge by Midnight (달빛은 월영교에 머물고) and, finally, Gimhae’s Gaya Tour (가야 초야행).
The Midnight Cultural Heritage Program will have the theme of “A Night Stroll Through History” and feature shows and events that spotlight cultural heritage sites by night (야경,夜景), introduce “midnight streets” (야로,夜路), give late-night history lessons (야사, 夜史), show artwork by moonlight (야화, 夜畵), perform nighttime concerts (야설, 夜說), offer up midnight snacks (야식, 夜食), allow people to spend a night in a cultural heritage site (야숙, 夜宿), and re-tell late-night stories about Joseon kings (야시, 夜市).
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cultural Heritage Administration
A group of musicians plays a piece on their 12-stringed gayageum zithers during the Suncheon Culture Night performance held in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do Province, this past August.
A concert featuring puppets and a lion is brought to the Cheongju Cultural Night stage this past summer in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province.
Members of the audience join in a group dance during the Jeonju Cultural Night, staged near the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju this past August.
