- UNESCO Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity Performances - Korean Traditional Performing
Arts on Unexpected Stages - Korean Folk Art Festival
- Revitalizing Korean Traditional
Performing Arts - Regular Performances of Traditional
Performing Arts
Through this festival, we actively discover, preserve, and inherit Korean folk art, which is disappearing. We share the value of Korean folklore through local folk art contests, demonstrations, and hands-on exhibitions.
The Korean Folk Art Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Korea, which began in 1958 under the name of “National Folk Art Contest of Korea” in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Korean government's establishment.
Over 700 folk heritage assets including Talchum (mask dance), Nongak (farmer’s performance), Ganggangsullae (women’s circle dance) and Juldarigi (Tug-of-war), have been discovered through the festival. More than 140 intangible cultural heritage assets designated by the state, city and province, and 12 items listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages were revealed through the festival to recognize the beauty and preservation value of Korean traditional culture.
The National Youth Folk Art Festival has been held since 1994 to encourage young people, who have not experienced Korean traditional art in modern surroundings, to inherit the spirit and folklore of the Korean people.
Festival Korean Folk Art Festival
The Korean Folk Art competition is held for four days in early October in a different province each year. Participants represent 17 cities and provinces, along with 5 northern provinces, from across the country.
Audiences can enjoy folk art performances in one place, and have hands-on experiences such as rice threshing or drawing water with a bucket.
Support Contest for Grassroot Korean Traditional Culture Transfer Support and Korean Folklore Surveyors
Among the 700 folk art items discovered through the festival, folklore surveyors will be selected for non-designated cultural heritage and folklore transmission status within the village community. The selected items (by region) will be supported with funding for partial participation and for transmission records (photos, videos, and transcripts).
Department : Traditional Festival Management Team 02-580-3278