The 2024 Gochang Moyangseong Fortress Festival opened its gates on Oct. 9 and continued through Oct. 13, celebrating history and culture at one of Korea’s most well-preserved fortresses, Gochangeupseong. The event, held alongside the Double Ninth Festival, takes its name from “Moyangseong,” the former title of Gochangeupseong.
Rooted in ancient Chinese tradition, the Double Ninth Festival—observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month—has long been a day of significance in Korea, dating back to the Silla dynasty. During the Goryeo period, it was marked by grand royal banquets and military gatherings.
At the heart of the Gochang Moyangseong Fortress Festival is the Dapseong tradition, a time-honored custom where women balance stones on their heads and walk around the fortress walls. According to legend, a single lap heals leg ailments, two laps promise long life, and completing three laps ensures a peaceful passage into the afterlife. Many believe the ritual traces back to Buddhist ceremonies.
This practice of balancing stones also connects to a famous local tale, “The Tale of Sibling Rivalry.” In the story, women from Gochang challenged men from Seosan to a fortress-building contest. While the men, overconfident in their strength, took their time, the women worked diligently, tricking the men by pretending to slack off. By the time the men realized how much progress the women had made, the women had already completed the Moyangseong fortress, leaving the men in defeat. The leftover stones from the men’s unfinished efforts are said to have become the dolmens that dot the landscape today.
This year’s festival brought more than just folklore to life. Traditional performances, lively folk games, and a bustling food market filled the fortress grounds, drawing both locals and visitors. Gochang County estimates that over 200,000 attendees flocked to the event, a 30% increase from last year. The spike in attendance is attributed to the sunny weather and the coinciding three-day holiday. An estimated 1,000 festivalgoers took part in the Dapseong tradition, carrying stones on their heads as they made their way around the fortress walls.
Gochang County plans to release final attendance numbers in two months after a thorough big data analysis.
