Jeongseon revives ancient hemp-making festival

The village of Yupyong in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, is buzzing with activity as it hosts the Samgut (hemp steaming) festival, a vibrant celebration of traditional Korean culture and communal life. Running from June 27 to 29, the festival offers a rare glimpse into the ancestral practices of hemp cultivation and processing, a tradition deeply woven into the region's identity.

Designated as a Gangwon Province Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Jeongseon Yupyong Samgut is more than just an agricultural process. It represents a historical communal ritual where villagers worked together, singing labor songs and playing music, as they harvested and steamed locally grown hemp. This collective effort fostered unity and shared the joys and sorrows of rural life, making it a unique folk tradition.

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Jeongseon Yupyong Samgut is a precious traditional culture that embodies the life, labor, and community spirit of our ancestors.

The festival meticulously recreates the traditional Samgut process. Starting with the "Samchigi" (hemp cutting) on June 27, preparatory steps like preparing the steaming site and stacking firewood take place. The main event on June 28 begins with a dawn ritual, followed by the traditional hemp steaming, involving layering the hemp stalks, covering them with straw, and then earth. The final day, June 29, involves uncovering the steamed hemp, separating the stalks, and drying the fibers.

Beyond the core ritual, the festival provides immersive experiences. Attendees can explore exhibitions of hemp products, including traditional crafts and folk paintings, and try their hand at the ancient art of hemp weaving. For those seeking a taste of rural life, activities like corn picking and potato harvesting are also available. Jeongseon has long been renowned as a top producer of hemp, with a year-round cycle of cultivation, processing, and weaving that defined the community's existence for generations.

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We hope this reenactment event will widely promote the historical and cultural value of Jeongseon's hemp folk traditions and provide an opportunity for local residents and tourists to experience tradition together and feel the importance of community.