[Asia Times Busan-Gyeongnam Bureau = Reporter Yoon Yoseop] Tongyeong City is running the 'How's Tongyeong This Year?' (Try Living in Tongyeong) program to strengthen ties with the community and expand its relationship-based population, and participants have responded enthusiastically.
At the end of March, the season kicked off with the \"Classical: 3 nights, 4 days\" program. Paired with the Tongyeong International Music Festival, it drew praise for its elegant lineup and gave the initiative a stylish, successful launch.
From April 28 to May 1, the \"Najeonchilgi (mother-of-pearl inlay lacquerware): 3 nights, 4 days\" program wrapped up, offering participants a deep, hands-on look at Tongyeong's traditional crafts.
The current workation program runs April through July as an extended stay. Two young creatives and freelancers are living in Tongyeong right now, balancing projects with everyday life. They’re sharing real-time posts on social media and travel essays that highlight the city’s lovely workspaces, helping position Tongyeong as a great place to both live and work.
The city is building on that momentum and fast-tracking follow-up programs to add some early-summer energy.
From May 19 to 22, Tongyeong will host the third themed program, \"Tongyeong Beer: 3 nights, 4 days.\" Blending local brews with the region’s food scene, this itinerary is packed with experiences curated to excite younger visitors and food-and-drink enthusiasts alike.
Notably, a month-long working-holiday program runs July 15 through August 15. Timed for the summer high season, the program combines hands-on help at local accommodations with extended stays. Organizers expect it to give participants practical, real-life experience while easing staffing pressures for small businesses—a win-win model for the community.
'Jukdo Village Byeolsingut' wraps up to strong turnout
On May 9, Tongyeong City held the 2026 Jukdo Village Byeolsingut in Jukdo Village, Hansan-myeon, drawing about 80 residents and visitors.
The Jukdo Village Byeolsingut is the only island ritual in Tongyeong that has been preserved continuously. For more than a century it has prayed for the village’s safety and rich catches through ceremonies such as Bujeong-gut, Yongwang-gut, Neolmaji-gut, Gamang/Jaeseok-gut, and Seonwang-gut.
This year’s program drew particular attention for centering on Geosangnori (the Zaho feast), where children present a celebratory table to their parents to express thanks. Paired with performances like the Tongyeong Jin dance, Gyobang Sobang dance, and folk songs, the event became a vibrant celebration of community—far more than a simple religious rite.
Experts note that the Jukdo Byeolsingut best preserves the original form of South Coast fishing-village gut rituals. Its distinctive rhythms and richly woven narrative songs give it high artistic and preservation value. Because it retains the ritual style of hereditary local shamans and a wide range of artistic characteristics, scholars regard it as one of the most authentic surviving forms of Korea’s cultural heritage.
