The 38th Goyang Haengju Cultural Festival, a flagship history and culture festival representing Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, will take place on June 13 across the Haengju Fortress History Park.
This year's festival is themed "Haengju, the Keystone Connecting Daily Life and Dreams." A keystone refers to the element that joins different stones together and supports a structure. The theme aims to connect the historical value of the Battle of Haengju and Haengju Fortress with the daily lives of citizens today.
The Battle of Haengju, in which General Gwon Yul defeated Japanese forces in 1593, is one of the three major victories of the Imjin War. This year marks its 433rd anniversary. Goyang City has prepared programs blending tradition and modernity against the backdrop of this historic site.
The signature program is the "Haengju Drone and Fireworks Show." This large-scale nighttime performance combines roughly 800 drones with fireworks on the Han River. It will create a spectacle of light using the night sky and the river's surface as its stage.
Historical experience programs are also abundant. The "Battle of Haengju Stone-Throwing Contest – National Gourd-Bursting Competition," inspired by the story of women carrying stones in their haengju aprons to fend off Japanese forces, will be held. The educational mission game "Protect Haengju!" is also open to participants of all ages and genders.
"This festival will allow visitors to directly feel the historical significance of the Battle of Haengju and create special memories in their daily lives," a Goyang City official said.
