"Muju proclaims its Muju Firefly Festival as Korea's representative festival"
Muju from North Jeolla Province proclaimed its Muju Firefly Festival as Korea's
representative festival beyond existing Korea's best festival during last 5 consecutive
years through the Official Opening Ceremony of the 21st Muju Firefly Festival,
held in the evening at Muju last Saturday (Aug. 26th).
Speaker Chung Se-kyun from the National Assembly ushered such shouting in front of total 12,000
spectators who gathered in Deungnamoo Ground, Muju to enjoy Muju Firefly
Festival of this year. Invited by Muju County Governor honorable Hwang Jeong-soo during last 3 consecutive years for the famtour of Muju Firefly Festival, a total
of 50 members of Diplomatic Community including some ambassadors & their
wives, senior diplomats and diplomatic families also were present at the
Opening Ceremony.
Through his welcome speech, County Governor Hwang emphasized that Muju
was once again confirmed as the mecca of Taekwondo all over the world after
the successful hosting of the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in which
President Moon Jae-in attended for the first time as National Head in the history of Taekwondo
Championships and a total of 1,768 Taekwondo atheletes from 183 countries took part.
North Jeolla Province Governor Song Ha-jin who has been attending in Muju Firefly Festival consecutively since several
years exceptionally, said Muju is the clean ecology No.1 travel destination in the
nation and asked the province residents to contribute for the rebirth of North
Jeolla Province with its 2023 World Scout Jamboree as a momentum.
After the three-hour limousine tour to Muju, Diplomatic Community were greeted
by Muju
County Governor Hwang & its dedicated County officials as well as staffs including
Muju Council chairman Yoo Song-yul and council assemblymen on 11:30 am, last Saturday (Aug. 26th) at Chuji
Garden, on the outskirts of Muju.
At the welcome ceremony before the luncheon, Hwang said that Muju County is
preparing for the leap of Muju Firefly Festival as the representative festival on
the peninsular beyond existing Korea's best festival during last 5 consecutive years
designated by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Sports. With the visits from
the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. during last 3 consecutive years, he said Muju
County expects the publicity of Muju Firefly Festival all over the world as a
genuine global festival.
As the capacity of visiting Diplomatic Community Dean, El Salvador Amb. Milton
Alcides Magana Herrera said: "We ambassadors and diplomats are very glad to
be able to share the strong and soaring spirit of Muju all over the world through
the shimmering firefly light". (See the excerpts of EL Salvador Amb. return speech
at the end of this article!)
After the welcome luncheon, Diplomatic Community dropped by Taekwondowon
which was consisted of a stadium symbolizing Taekuk mark, a museum and
an experience center, to see Taekwondo demonstrations at firsthand. The only
monorail in Korea by which visitors can reach easily the observatory that
commands a beautiful view of the whole area in Muju, provided Diplomatic
Community with their unforgettable fresh observatory experience.
In the afternoon late, Diplomatic Community visited Wild Grape Wine Cave, a
space to age, store, and sell Wild Grape Wine, one of the local specialties of
Muju. Entering deep into the cave about 270 meters lead visitors to a cafe
which offers Wild Grape Wine tasting and Wild Grape Wine Foot Bath.
Street parade to Deungnamu Stadium was last Diplomatic Community's
participation route before evening official opening ceremony. About 2,100
different species worldwide, fireflies are an indicator of pure air and a clean
environment, according to Muju County. The 21st Muju Firefly Festival runs until
Sep. 3(Sunday). Philippine translatorin Ms. Shelly played a very excelllent guide role
during one-day famtour and all participants of Diplomatic Community expressed their
full satisfaction for her.
For reference, Muju's fireflies and marshes are designated as a natural monument
no. 322 as a protective measure. Light production in fireflies are caused by
chemical reactions in their lower abdomens. Fireflies produce a 98% "cold light",
with no other frequencies. No bigger than 2cm in length, fireflies take about
two years to evolve from eggs to larvae to adults.
Luncheon reply remarks by El Salvador Amb. H.E Milton Alcides MAGANA
HERRERA, The 21st Muju Firefly Festival on 11:30 am. Aug. 26th (Sat.)-Ed.
First of all, on behalf of the Seoul Diplomatic Coprs. including today’s participating ambassadors & senior diplomats in the opening ceremony, I
would like to convey our sincere congratulations on the opening of the 21stMuju
Firefly Festival and express our heartfelt gratitude for inviting us to Muju County
Mayor Honorable Mr. Hwang Jeong-soo.
We ambassadors and diplomats understand that with its main theme, ‘Light of
Nature, Light of Life, Light of Future’, Muju Firefly Festival is aiming at a global
festival that exceeds national-borders and linguistic and cultural barriers with a view to realizing World Peace
and Harmony from the courtship of fireflies. We ambassadors and diplomats
are very glad to be able to share the strong and soaring spirit of Muju all over
the world through the shimmering firefly light.
Moreover, we ambassadors and diplomats heard that Muju is the mecca of
Taekwondo all over the world, hosting successfully the 2017 Taekwondo World
Championships last June with the attendance of President Moon Jae-in from the Republic of Korea as well as 1,768 Taekwondo atheletes from 183
countries in the world. In that regard, we ambassadors and diplomats have
high expectations on visiting Taekwondowon this afternoon to see Taekwondo
demonstrations at firsthand in addition to seeing another major tourist
attractions including Muju Wine Cave and Bandi Land Insect Museum, and
Observatory tower etc.
Once again, I express our sincere appreciation. Thank you.