The Seoul Municipal Government announced on the 1st that it will hold a traditional martial arts demonstration event at the Uijeongbu Historic Site in front of Gwanghwamun from September 6 to October. The event will take place every Saturday and Sunday from 2:20 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The event will showcase nine traditional martial arts demonstrations, including the National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 15 "Bokcheong Lion Dance," Gichang, Bongong (cudgel), and the Bongooggeom (sword).
"Bokcheong Lion Dance" is a folk performance featuring a lion mask that resembles "Duffy," a character from the recently popular animation "K-Pop Demon Hunters." The performance will start at Uijeongbu and proceed through Gwanghwamun Square, returning back to Uijeongbu.
The traditional martial arts demonstration will begin with a female inspector's sword dance, followed by Gichang, Bongong, Bongooggeom, Deungpae, Woldo, Ssanggeom, Dangpa, Gyohjeon, and Joseon Seobbeop.
There will also be experiential activities before and after the event. Participants can try archery, staff techniques, swordsmanship, and take photos with performers dressed in martial arts uniforms. The experiential activities can be reserved in advance on the Seoul Cultural Portal website or registered on-site.
However, the Uijeongbu traditional martial arts event may be canceled or postponed in case of rain. The event status can be checked on the Seoul Cultural Portal and the Seoul City Cultural Headquarters' Instagram.
Kyung-Jin, the head of the Seoul City Cultural Heritage Utilization Division, said, "I hope that the whole family can feel the charm of tradition and experience our culture more closely."