Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Danoje (Dano Festival)

About the Festival

The Yeonggwang Beopseongpo Danoje is a representative Korean folk festival where tradition and the sea come together. It is a historic festival with a 500-year history dating back to the mid-Joseon Dynasty, held annually around the 5th day of the 5th lunar month in the Beopseongpo area. In accordance with the local characteristics where fishing was central from ancient times, traditional rituals such as praying to the mountain god Inui-sansin for the peace and abundant catch of the village, and holding a ritual for the Dragon King at sea, have been passed down. In 2012, it was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognizing its traditional cultural value, and today it has established itself as a nationwide traditional culture festival. During the festival, events such as Nanjang Teugi (opening ceremony), Yongwangje (Dragon King's ritual), Seonyunori (boat play), Supjaengi National Gugak Competition, ssireum (Korean wrestling) competition, folk games, traditional performances, and hands-on activities are held, operating as a participatory festival where locals and visitors can mingle. Seasonal customs experiences like washing hair with iris water, making rice cakes with a mallet, and swing riding are also prepared, allowing family tourists and foreigners to directly experience Korea's unique holiday culture. It is a representative traditional festival that reflects on the wisdom of ancestors and community spirit, promoting the inheritance and development of traditional culture.