The nine-day spectacle of the 58th Baekje Cultural Festival came to an end on 7 October. This cultural festival is originated in the 1955 event organized by Buyeo residents, in which they installed an altar at the Buso Mountain Fortress and held a memorial service for the three faithful retainers ­ Seongchung, Heungsu and Gyebaek ­, and also performed a Suryukjae (Buddhist rites for all spirits of land and water) in Baekma River near the Nakhwaam Rock. In 1957, a temple named Samchungsa was built in respect for the three loyalists, and in 1965, the festival was expanded in scale by being organized at a provincial level. The festival, which was held separately by Buyeo and Gongju on different dates, was integrated into one in 2007 to be held during the same period in the two counties. In 2010, it was renamed as the Great Baekje World Festival and laid the foundation to become a global festival on history and culture.

For the success of this year’s Baekje Cultural Festival following the 2010 Great Baekje World Festival and the 57th Baekje Cultural Festival, the public and private sectors joined forces. As a result, the festival attracted over 1.5 million tourists and was acclaimed as a successful local festival in terms of both profitability and residents’ engagement. This year’s festival was also recognized for having suggested the future direction of the Baekje Cultural Festival. Starting with the opening ceremony on 29 September, the festival with the theme of “Resurrection of Great Baekje” highlighted various programs including performances, exhibitions and events. The event venues decorated with the theme of Geumgang River and the ancient Baekje culture also caught the eyes of visitors. Especially, thanks to the active participation of local people, the Ungjin Fortress Parade on 1~2 October created a great spectacle, drawing more than 30,000 people. And the Baekje Town roofed with logs and straws also attracted many visitors by reproducing the atmosphere of an ancient village. People felt there as if they travelled in time to the ancient Baekje period also The floating lanterns in the shape of artifacts, fish as well as the parade of King Muryeong created a beautiful night scene along the bridge connecting Gongsanseong Fortress and Geumgang Shingwan Park. And the “Encounter with Great Baekje” on the excavation site in Gongsanseong Fortress and the excavation experience program at the ancient tomb of Baekje in Suchon-ri offered people an opportunity to meet with the history of Baekje.

The memorial service for the four great kings of Baekje (Ungjin Period) ­ Munju, Sangeun, Dongseong and Muryeong ­ has become a symbolic ancestral rite of the Baekje Cultural Festival. And the Great Yeongsan-Jae (Buddhist rite), Seonhakri Carrying Rack Play, Uidang-myeon Ground Tamping and King Muryeong Tea Ceremony have become key programs to represent the culture and historicity of ancestors.

In the closing ceremony held in Gongju Geumgang Shingwan Park (6:30 pm, 7 Oct), the flame of the festival was put out and the Great Baekje Choir composed of hundreds of residents sang in unison the “Spirit of Baekje” a song written to commemorate the great history and culture of Baekje, making a grand finale of the festival.