Jungmun Saekdal Beach Festival

▲ "Socialism" gives a preview performance at Jeju City Hall. Photo credit Hong Sunyoung

There's a beach party about to happen.

Thirty-two consecutive nights of live entertainment under a star-filled sky on a beautiful beach – complete with outside bar and dance stage – sounds like a recipe for the perfect summer.

And the Jungmun Saekdal Beach Festival aims to provide exactly that, from July 20 to Aug. 20.

In its first offering of what is to become an annual festival, the event was conceived by Ji Geum Jong, director of the organizing committee. Ji moved to Jeju Island from the mainland two years ago, with intentions of developing an alternative community.

When asked about his motivation, Ji identified three factors behind the creation of the festival.

“First, Jeju is lacking in nightlife, so we hope to add to the evening options,” he said. “Residents of Jeju don't have sufficient cultural events either, and the festival will bring more of these.”

“Most of all,” he continued, “Koreans from the mainland romanticize Jeju as a place of warm summer nights on the beach with a sea breeze, and Jungmun is a popular destination. I wanted to help visitors materialize their fantasy of Jeju.”

▲ "Satisfaction" in their preview performance, Jeju City Hall. Photo credit Hong Sunyoung

The performance genres are varied and include reggae, b-boy, folk, classical, traditional, fusion, crossover, acoustic, choir, jazz, arari-rock, ska, hip hop, and more. A DJ will be on hand to cover breaks between performances.

An outdoor bar, offering drinks and food, will be set up on the beach. There will also be a dance stage on which flamenco, salsa, belly-dancing and more will be performed. Audience participation will be encouraged.

The month-long festival overlaps with a five-day event by the Jeju Peace Boat, from July 20 to 24. The boat, which will be docked near the beach, provides eco-travel and invites participants to “dance the culture, sing the peace, and meet the nature of Jeju Island.”

One of the key events of the Jungmun festival will be its Opening Party on Friday, July 22. Beginning at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than the other nights of the festival, the party will be held in three stages.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Jeju Peace Boat musicians will perform, along with other local performing groups like Noridang, Brass Bong, and Yuja Salon.

At 7:30 there will be a 30-minute celebration in cocktail party fashion, including free drinks and words of welcome from local officials and supporters.

In the final phase, from 8 to 11 p.m., well-known bands Suri Suri Mahasuri, and Windy City will perform.

▲ Festival Director Ji Geum Jang in the audience at the preview performance. Photo credit Anne Hilty.

One of the aims of the organizing committee is to provide a showcase for local talent.

“Most of the performers are from Jeju,” according to organizer Hong Sunyoung. “We have a few coming from the mainland, but we wanted to provide opportunities for Jeju performing artists – and also, a place for them to network with one another.”

In two preview performances, on July 8 at Jeju City Hall and July 9 at Seogwipo Saeyean Bridge, Satisfaction, a B-Boy group, and the rock band Socialism were featured.

The month-long festival is supported by Seogwipo City Hall and by Saekdal village which manages the beach, including facilities owned by diving women. The festival's sole sponsor is Lotte Hotel Jeju.

For more information, see the festival's website: http://www.yahaefestival.net(Korean only), or call 064-760-3588~9 or 010-9840-0477 (English and Korean).


Dr. Hilty is a cultural health psychologist.