23rd Seosan Haemieupseong Festival to feature immersive history

| NBNTV = Reporter Gye Gyeong-nam | On the walls built by Taejong, Sejong dreamed of a nation for the people. The festival reopens as one of Korea's most intense historical experience venues.

The 23rd Seosan Haemieupseong Festival, a premier festival of Chungcheongnam-do, will be held for three days from the 9th to the 11th of next month at the Seosan Haemieupseong Fortress area. Hosted by Seosan City and organized by the Seosan Cultural Foundation, this event is a representative historical and cultural festival of Korea, already recognized as one of the 'Local 100' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.

The theme for this year is 'HAEMI UNIVERSE 1421, The Gate of Time Opens.' The year 1421 marks the completion of Haemieupseong Fortress. The festival's narrative begins with a scene from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty in February 1416, five years prior, when the twenty-year-old Grand Prince Chungnyeong was part of King Taejong's military training procession.

This year's festival breaks away completely from the traditional 'spectator festival' model, transforming the entire fortress into an 'Immersive Space.' The moment visitors enter the fortress gate and scan a QR code, their mobile phones are converted into a Joseon-era 'Hopae' (identification tag). Through hands-on military and civil service exam experiences, visitors can shoot arrows and sit for exams; successful candidates will receive a Hongpae (red certificate), while the top scorer will be honored as the 'Daily Magistrate of Haemi-hyeon.'

At a press conference held in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 16th, General Director Lee Jeong-min (44), who has directed major events such as the Seoul Jazz Festival, Gwacheon Jazz Picnic, and Incheon Asian Games, explained, "We have revived the intense moment when the two giants, Taejong and Sejong, met as a massive narrative for the entire festival. This festival has prepared a space for experiencing rather than just watching."

Regarding parking and traffic for the regional festival, Lim Jin-beon, CEO of the Seosan Cultural Foundation, stated, "We have secured as much parking space as possible at nearby universities and schools, and we have significantly increased accessibility to public transportation by deploying 26 shuttle buses."

On the walls of Haemieupseong Fortress, 'Gakjaseongseok' (twenty-three stones, building the fortress with light) remain, engraved with the names of various towns in Chungcheong Province—such as Gongju, Cheongju, Cheonan, Daejeon, and Sejong—that were mobilized to build the fortress 600 years ago. Using the light of these twenty-three towns, the opening ceremony will modernly reinterpret the history of Chungcheong Province building the fortress together, creating a spectacular scene where twenty-three large lanterns symbolizing the harmony of the 23 cities and counties in the Chungcheong region are lit. Additionally, a drone lighting show involving 1,000 drones will be held five times over the three days.

The drone show is expected to embroider a massive historical narrative across the night sky, consisting of 10 scenes, ranging from the flight of a golden hawk to the completion year of 1421, the shape of Haemieupseong Fortress, the military camp of the Chungcheong Byeongma Jeoldosa, King Taejong's military procession, the actual military parade, the shape of a shield, and 'Seosan, where the sun rises.'

On the 10th, the highlight of the festival, the private historical dining 'Haemi Seongchan Palpok,' will be served for a limited group of 60 people (paid). The 600-year history of Haemi will be presented on eight plates in the 'order of historical scenes' (from the 1st plate, Taejong's Military Training, to the 8th plate, Geumik Hwancheon) rather than a chronological eating order. In addition to invitations for local elders, reservations can be made via SNS, and some on-site registration will also be available.

Along with the diverse programs around the Haemieupseong Fortress area, visitors can also visit Seosan's representative cultural heritages such as the Seosan Rock-carved Buddha Triad, Gaesimsa Temple, and Ganwolam Hermitage. For food, visitors can enjoy Seosan's abundant seasonal delicacies, including Seosan new harvest rice, Seosan Hanwoo beef, blue crabs, jumbo prawns, and grilled gizzard shad.

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