Regular Performance Pyeongtaek Turtle Play

"Pyeongtaek Turtle Play" is a folk game handed down through generations in about 20 villages in Pyeongtaek. Having visited their ancestor’s grave, young men disguised as a turtle with sorghum leaves call from door to door to cast away demons and pray for good health, long life and fruitful harvest. This play embodies the culture of fun-loving Koreans who like sharing foods with their neighbors and cooperate with each other in promoting the unity of their village. In particular, the play has become Pyeongtaek’s representative folk game by receiving grand prize at the Gyeonggi-do National Art Festival in 2013 and silver prize at the Korean Folk Art Festival in 2014. "Pyeongtaek Turtle Play" is significant in that it contributes to the inheritance of Korean traditional heritage and gives people the opportunity to have fun together regardless of their gender and age.

"Pyeongtaek Turtle Play" is a folk game handed down through generations in about 20 villages in Pyeongtaek. Having visited their ancestor’s grave, young men disguised as a turtle with sorghum leaves call from door to door to cast away demons and pray for good health, long life and fruitful harvest. This play embodies the culture of fun-loving Koreans who like sharing foods with their neighbors and cooperate with each other in promoting the unity of their village. In particular, the play has become Pyeongtaek’s representative folk game by receiving grand prize at the Gyeonggi-do National Art Festival in 2013 and silver prize at the Korean Folk Art Festival in 2014. "Pyeongtaek Turtle Play" is significant in that it contributes to the inheritance of Korean traditional heritage and gives people the opportunity to have fun together regardless of their gender and age.

"Pyeongtaek Turtle Play" has a long history that portray culture native to Pyeongtaek, but at the same time, it reflects the overall culture of fun-loving Koreans. The play has remained in existence since it began to reenact the traditional turtle play that originated in Pyeongtaek in 2012, and it finally received recognition by being awarded with a grand prize at the Gyeonggi-do National Art Festival in September, 2013. Furthermore, the play received silver prize at the Korean Folk Art Festival in October, 2014. The event is currently held as Standing Cultural Tourism Program, and it is divided into two parts: in part one, various traditional performances such as Gyeonggi folk songs, drum performance, Korean traditional dance, percussion music performance, and Jindo drum dance are held; and in the part two, turtle play composed of nine sections is performed. The audience can also participate in this event by dancing and holding a big model of a turtle. The play brings both performers and audience together.

Research on Pyeongtaek Turtle Play (2009-2011)
Reenaction of Pyeongtaek Turtle Play (2012)
Awarded grand prize at the Gyeonggi-do National Art Festival (2013)
Awarded silver prize at the Korean Folk Art Festival (2014)
Selected as Standing Cultural Tourism Program by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (2015-2016)

"Pyeongtaek Turtle Play" is divided into two parts and gives audience the opportunity to watch various traditional performances and folk plays in one place. In part one, various traditional performances such as Gyeonggi folk songs, drum performance, Korean traditional dance, percussion music performance, and Jindo drum dance are held: Gyeonggi folk songs consist of unique and flexible melody; drum performance is a combination of Korean traditional music and the non-verbal comedy show Nanta; dance performance is based on the traditional dance performed in front of civil and military officials to pray for a healthy, long life and a peaceful era; percussion music performance is an ensemble of four percussion instruments; and Jindo drum dance shows the harmony of drum sounds and dancing steps. The performances with exciting sounds and melodies are followed by second part of the performance. Visitors can watch the highlight of this event, Pyeongtaek Turtle Play, in part two, which is composed of nine sections. The performance is done in the following order: making up oneself as a turtle with sorghum leaves; singing Turtle Song and doing a road play to the melody; passing by the gate of a house of a high-ranking official in the village; walking around the well and giving words of blessing; praying to household gods living in jangdokdae (a platform of traditional sauce and condiment pottery jars); former practice and shamanic ritual to pray for a healthy life of family members; madang outdoor performance in which a house owner gives tired turtles foods; finishing play performed by recovered turtles; and finishing madang outdoor performance for all participants.

Notice on the website of Pyeongtaek City Hall and distribution of leaflets