Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjin Castle 웅진성수문병 근무교대식

The Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjin Castle with the background of one of the Baekje Historic Areas selected as the UNESCO's World Heritage Site in 2015 reenacts the service of the guards defending the castle, using costumes and props based on the strict analysis of the historical records. The ceremony is held every Saturday and Sunday from April to November except the hot summer season of June to August, and conducted every day during the Baekje Culture Festival in the fall. The event includes martial art performances and various experiences as well as the main ceremony, aiming at promoting Gongju-si, where the Baekje culture flourished, and its valuable heritage Gongsanseong Fortress.
 

The Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjin Castle with the background of one of the Baekje Historic Areas selected as the UNESCO's World Heritage Site in 2015 reenacts the service of the guards defending the castle, using costumes and props based on the strict analysis of the historical records. The ceremony is held every Saturday and Sunday from April to November except the hot summer season of June to August, and conducted every day during the Baekje Culture Festival in the fall. The event includes martial art performances and various experiences as well as the main ceremony, aiming at promoting Gongju-si, where the Baekje culture flourished, and its valuable heritage Gongsanseong Fortress.

The Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjin Castle is conducted with costumes, weapons, and flags which are restored based on the historical records showing the life of ancient empire Baekje. The ceremony consists of the guard's reporting the beginning of duty to a king, the king's presenting a sword to the guard, and the guard's pledging to defend the gate. Furthermore, martial art performances seasoning modern viewpoints to Baekje's traditional martial art express the courage and dignity of the soldiers in Baekje. Every Sunday, the ceremony is accompanied by a variety of opportunities to experience the traditional culture of Baekje, such as puppet shows, role plays, archery experience, wearing traditional clothes, and prison experience. Also, the special event is included that applicants can play the role of the guard and are given a guard ID card used as a coupon in other experience programs. If the applicants are students, the experience is acknowledged as a voluntary service activity. The Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjin Castle entailing such diverse shows and experience programs must be a fascinating opportunity to feel the beauty of the Baekje's culture and Gongsanseong.

The Guard-Changing Ceremony of Woongjin Castle reviving the glorious tradition of Baekje is largely divided into three parts. The first one is a guard-reporting ceremony where the senior guard is presented an order and sword by the king and pledges to firmly defend the castle, and reports the beginning of the duty. It is followed by a guard-changing ceremony where the sound of buks and jings, traditional Korean drums, send a signal. Then the guards holding an appointed weapon and flags march from the peripheral area of the castle to the front of the king, and vice versa. The last part is marked by martial art performances. The well trained guards upgrade the actions of the martial art to a form of art seasoned with the modern senses. The event is important as it gives an opportunity that the contemporary people meet Baekje every week and remind the meaning and value.

Students majoring Dramatic Performance in Korea University Of Media Arts (total 22 of 1 general, 2 senior guards, 1 drummer, and 18 soldiers)

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