Mandure Pungjanggut

The Gochang Nongak Preservation Association, the official preservation organization for Gochang Nongak—recognized as both a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and a Jeonbuk State Intangible Cultural Heritage—was established in 1998. Since then, it has devoted itself to preserving the distinctive artistry of Gochang Nongak, training future generations of performers, restoring village rituals, and documenting traditional cultural practices through extensive archival work.

Presented in this performance, <Mandure Pungjanggut> recreates the music and communal festivities traditionally performed during Mandure, the third and final stage of weeding in Korea's rice-farming cycle. Unlike the first and second rounds of weeding, Mandure marked the completion of the season's most demanding labor. Villagers gathered to celebrate together, offering prayers for a plentiful harvest while sharing music, dance, and festive performances that strengthened the bonds of the community.

The Gochang Nongak Preservation Association vividly brings this traditional agricultural celebration back to life. Through the dynamic rhythms and vibrant spirit of Gochang Pungjanggut, the performance captures the joy, solidarity, and blessings that once transformed farmers' hard work into a communal festival, offering audiences an authentic experience of Korea's traditional performing arts.