The Jeju Batdam Festival recently concluded. This third edition of the event provided visitors a great opportunity to learn about the Jeju people and the importance of stone culture in their daily lives. Joseph Kim reports.



Report

Jeju’s traditional stone walls are well preserved in (월정리) Woljeong-ri, Gujwa-eup.

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Participants learn about old farmers’ lives while hiking along walls

The guided hikes along stone walls provide not only a physical workout and mental calm but also opportunities to learn about life of the island’s old farmers who had to move stones out of the way to make a field ready for sowing.

The hikes, the representative program of the (밭담) Batdam Festival, have gained in popularity.

INTERVIEW
Park Jeong-ja / Actress
Every stone is a gem of the island. They are shining gems, a valuable resource, and part of our natural heritage.
<인터뷰: 박정자 연극배우>
“명실공히 돌 하나하나가 제주의 보석입니다. 어떤 보석보다도 가장 빛나는 보석이라고 생각하고 또 자원이고 유산이라고 생각해요."

Like the previous events, there are none of the same old foods and concerts.

Instead, diverse activities like a rock stacking and rolling contest please visitors. Participants could learn the history, culture and value of the stone walls.

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Evolving into distinctive local event

When the province tried out the festival for the first time, the event looked awkward and some questioned its suitability.

But the program has evolved into one of the island’s distinctive festivals.

INTERVIEW
Gang Seung-jin / Festival organizer
The festival has played an important role in making getting these stone walls recognized as a treasure and part of world heritage.
<인터뷰:강승진/제주도농어업유산위원회 위원장>
"제주밭담이라는 애물단지를 제주인의 보물과 세계유산으로 만드는데 중요한 역할을 하고 있고 이런 가치를 높이는데 제주밭담축제가 중요한 역할을 하는게 아닌가..."

Organizers also prepared an art market at the festival site with a diverse set of souvenirs on sale for the first time.

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Souvenirs inspired by Jeju batdam

All of the items were made by local artists and all were inspired by Jeju batdam.

The artists witnessed the potential of their works as souvenirs for the island.

The festival was born to commemorate the designation of the stone walls as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeong-joon

It sheds new light on the value of the stone walls and is becoming an arena to develop and hand down the heritage to future generations.

Joseph Kim, KCTV