Seorak Cultural Festival

The Seorak Cultural Festival is Sokcho's representative regional cultural festival, continuing since the 1st Seorak Festival in 1966. It is a festival that has brought together the history and culture formed around Mt. Seorak, along with the lives and stories of Sokcho's citizens. This year, marking the 61st edition, the festival looks back on 60 years of tradition and history under the theme 'Seorak, Coloring Together,' taking a further step forward as a festival where citizens and tourists participate together to create new stories. While carrying on the identity the Seorak Cultural Festival has built over its long history, it will present a new side of the festival through a variety of programs in which citizens become the main characters, directly participating and enjoying themselves. In particular, the program reflects on the historical significance of the 'Seoraksosa (雪嶽小祀),' the central ritual that has continued since the 1st Seorak Festival, and adds commentary and storytelling to the traditional rite so that citizens and tourists can more easily understand and relate to it. Also, the 'Seorak Climbing Competition,' which carries on the mountain culture that has been part of the Seorak Cultural Festival since its beginning, features a Mt. Seorak climbing event along the normally closed Dalmabong trail, as well as a Mt. Seorak concert, allowing participants to fully enjoy the beautiful autumn of Seorak. The festival's signature program, the 'Street Parade,' unfolds as a citizen-unity parade directly featuring local residents, clubs, schools, and cultural and arts groups. With Seorak Rodeo Street as its stage, all citizens come together across generations and regions, offering the joy of a Seorak Cultural Festival that goes beyond watching to directly creating and participating. Alongside this, at the Sokcho Expo Lawn Square, a variety of cultural and arts performances continue, including citizen-unity programs such as 'Sokcho! Cheerful Sports Day,' performances by local arts groups, fringe performances, and a club festival. Programs the whole family can enjoy together, such as local culture experiences and a children's playground, will also be prepared, and the 'Seorak Rodeo Street Commercial District Revitalization Project' and 'Sokcho Cultural City Gourmet Week' will be linked to further enrich the festival's enjoyment. The Seorak Cultural Festival, having continued for 61 years, now begins a new era and a new story.