Funkorea Story: Gwangalli Eobang festival in suyeong -gu Busan

Number of small festivals such as Namcheon-Millak Live Fish Festival, Gwangalli Beach Festival and Namcheon-dong Cherry Blossom Festival were unified in 2001 into a festival of a larger district scale Gwangalli Eobang Festival. As the only festival in Korea based on folk customs of traditional fishing villages, it is a characteristic spring festival of Busan which is held in Gwangalli Beach, Gwangan Bridge, Gwangalli New Media Art Museum, Gwangalli Beach Theme Street and so on

"Eobang (漁坊)" had been the cooperative fishermen's union of the Suyeong region where the fishing market was active, so the festival was named as "Gwangalli Eobang Festival" and is held every spring, at the end of April, based on the theme of inheriting the traditional spirit. Enjoy the colorful burst of spring in the place of dream and romance, Gwangalli Beach!

Eobang
With rich marine products, Suyeong was the first fishery region in Busan. In the Joseon period, installation of the Gyeongsang Jwasuyeong (The left navy of the Gyeongsang region) in this region had developed fishery much more because food had to be provided to the navy. In the eleventh year of King Hyeonjong, Eobang was installed to give instruction of fishing techniques for the purpose of encouraging and promoting fishery, and that was the Jwasuyeong Eobang (Eobang of the left navy). Eobang was cooperative unions in fishing villages, which are similar to mutual-aid communities in sea villages of the present.

Eobang encouraged singing songs to relieve people from stress of hard work during a group work and to increase efficiency by letting people work with songs telling of fishermen's feelings. Fishing activities of that time were reorganized to "Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori", which has been preserved and passed on until now as the important intangible cultural asset No. 62. Gwangalli Eobang Festival was therefore named after Eobang (漁坊)' in that it is to follow the traditional spirit of the Suyeong region.

* Eobang net-dragging Date: 15:00 ~ 16:30, April 26(Fri) ~ April 27(Sat) and 15:30 ~ 17:00, April 28(Sun)
Location: In front of the Mannamei Square
Program Description:It is an experience that dragging large net in participation of people. Since it reproduces traditional fishing method with the participants of the festival, it serves an opportunity for everyone to be united as one.

Jindueohwa Date:19:00 ~ 21:00, April 26(Fri) ~ April 27(Sat)
Location: In front of the Mannamei Square
Program Description: This traditional fishing method that was promoted by holding torchlight has been succeeded in Suyeong area from ancient time. The word ‘Jindueohwa’ indicates a lamp or torchlight that was lit at fishing boats and river ports where ships were coming and leaving.

Street parade Date :16:00 ~ 18:30, April 28(Sat)
Location : City Hall Square > Gwangalli Beach > Millak-dong permanent stage
Program Description: Command the front sea of Gwangalli by GyeongsangJwasusa (Left naval commander)!
It is a parade that symbolizes the tradition and modern times of Suyeong.

Suyeong Folk Art Performance Date: 14:00 ~ 14:30, April 27(Sat)
14:30 ~ 15:00, April 28(Sun)
Location: In front of Hotel Homers
Program Description: It is Suyeong Yaru performance that was no. 43 Important Intangible cultural Asset.

Hanging a lantern of wish Date: April 19(Fri) ~ April 28(Sun)
Location: Theme Street
Program Description: It is a charged exhibition (10,000 won) in the Theme Street. Lanterns that were requested by families, individual, and group are exhibited along the street.

Program Schedule of Gwangalli Eobang festival


By Tourist Bus or Car
through Namhae Expressway Seobusan Tollgate -> Dongseo Overpass -> Hwangryeongsan Tunnel Lamp -> Daenam Underground Road -> Gwangalli Coast Road -> Gwangalli Beach through Gyeongbu Expressway Guseo Interchange -> Dosi Expressway -> Suyeong Riverside Road -> Gwangan Bridge -> Gwangalli Beach
By Express Bus or Intercity Bus
Nopodong Bus Terminal Take the Subway 1st line at Nopodong Station and transfer at Seomyeon Station to the 2nd line -> Get it off at Geumryeonsan Station (1.2km, 18 minutes taken on foot) or Gwangan Station (700m, 10 minutes taken on foot) Sansang Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal Take the Subway 2nd line at Sasang Station and Get it off at Geumryeonsan Station or Gwangan Station Local bus No. 62 (Gwangalli Beach)
By KTX: Busan Station
Take the Subway 1st line at Busan Station and transfer at Seomyeon Station to the 2nd line -> Get it off at Geumryeonsan Station or Gwangan Station Local bus No. 41, 139, 1001 or 1003 (Gwangalli Beach)
By Air: Gimhae International Airport
Take the limousine bus toward Haeundae Beach (15-min. interval) and get it off Namcheon-dong (in front of the Kolon building).
By City Tour Bus ((051) 463-0084, Unavailable on Mondays)
Available 4 times everyday: Get off the bus at Gwangalli Beach (the Mannamei square)
By Local Bus
Take the bus No. 38, 42, 62, 83, 83-1 or 108-1 and get it off at Gwangalli Beach (200m, 4 minutes taken on foot). Take the bus No. 20, 39, 51-1,55-1, 131 or 155 and get it off at Gwangalli Beach (300m, 6 minutes taken on foot).
By Subway
Get off the subway 2nd line at Geumryeonsan Station or Gwangan Station (transfer at the 1st line Seomyeon or Yeonsan Station, transfer at the 3rd line Yeonsan Station)