Celebrating Filial Piety and Roots: The 15th Daejeon Hyo Culture Root Festival(대전효문화뿌리축제)

The 15th Daejeon Hyo Culture Root Festival, hosted by the Jung-gu Office of Daejeon Metropolitan City (District Mayor Kim Jae-seon 김제선), was held from October 11 to 13 at the Root Park area in Sanseong-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. This festival, unique in its focus on "filial piety" and "roots," has been recognized as a preliminary festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for 2024.

The Daejeon Hyo Culture Root Festival, which started in 2008, is the only festival in the country that emphasizes the themes of "filial piety" and "roots." It aims to preserve Korea's traditional cultural values, remind families of the importance of their bonds, and create a space for generational respect and harmony each fall in the Root Park area.

This festival has been honored as one of only 20 festivals selected as a "preliminary festival" by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for 2024, among hundreds held nationwide. The Daejeon Hyo Culture Root Festival is a spiritual cultural festival involving 244 family clans from across the country. At this year’s parade, 105 family clans participated, showcasing their unique identities.

Jung-gu, Daejeon, where the festival is held, boasts notable infrastructure dedicated to the culture of filial piety, including Root Park, the Korean Genealogy Museum, the Hyo Culture Village, and the Hyo Culture Promotion Center. The festival has potential to elevate the spiritual values of the Korean people globally.

The 15th Daejeon Hyo Culture Root Festival welcomed participants from various backgrounds, including Korean-Russians, North Korean defectors, and Kazakhstanis, as part of efforts to promote the festival internationally and as a potential global event. The first-ever international "Hyo Root Talent Contest" took place this year, with participants from Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Additionally, a three-day root-seeking camp for Korean-Russian youth was held, featuring performances by the Kazakhstan National Korean Theater Choir, the Baekdu-Halla Art Troupe comprised of North Korean defectors, the Our People’s Voice Art Troupe led by Korean traditional musician Bang In-suk, and the Im Heung-ja Minyo Troupe led by the head of the Daejeon branch of the Namsam Province Minyo Preservation Society, Im Heung-ja.

Kim Jae-seon, the Jung-gu District Mayor, emphasized that the Daejeon Hyo Culture Root Festival is the only festival in the country dedicated to "filial piety" and "roots," consistently held every year. He added that "filial piety" should be valued worldwide as a human right, fostering mutual respect and love across generations.