The first-ever Jeju Batdam Festival was held over the weekend. Organizers and participants say it shed light on the island’s unique stone walls, and their importance to local culture. Mike Balfour has more.


The first ever Jeju Batdam Festival has ended after four days of events.

In its first ever launch, diverse and interesting activities were prepared including a rock stacking contest and a stone rolling contest.

Many other activities were also held to help promote Jeju’s volcanic stone walls known as “batdam”.

[INTERVIEW]
Choi Sang-sul / Gujwa-eup
I participated in the stone rolling contest. I wasn’t as good as the younger people, but it was fun. I enjoyed the experience.
<인터뷰:최상설 구좌읍 덕천리>
"돌을 한 번 굴려봤는데 젊은 사람보다는 못 하겠지만 재미있었습니다. 즐거운 경험이었어요."

Another opportunity was to take a traditional bamboo lunch box with you
on an ancestral walk along a Jeju batdam road which gave participants a chance to experience a bit of Jeju’s culture.

[INTERVIEW]
Goh Duk-soo, Kim Shin-bok / Yongdam-dong
It reminded me of my aunt. You’ll never know what it’s like until you try it. It’s something you have to taste yourself to know.
<인터뷰:고덕순 김신복/제주시 용담동>
"우리 큰어머니 생각이 나요. 먹어보지 않은 사람은 몰라요.
먹어봐야 맛을 알 수 있습니다."

The festival had a number of valuable seminars that distinguished it from other eat and drink events by giving a glimpse of Jeju’s traditional culture.

It also provided an opportunity to discuss the preservation of Jeju’s stone walls and their cultural value.

SYNC
Jeong Kwang-joong / VP, Jeju National University
When it comes to the designation of world cultural heritage, I would select Jeju’s stone walls as the top priority.
<녹취:정광중 제주대학교 부총장>
"남아있는 한가지를 세계문화유산이나 세계복합유산으로 등재를 할 수 있다면 순서적으로 봤을때 0순위가 제주돌담이 아닐까..."

[Camera]
Hyeon Gwang-hoon

Another characteristic of the four day festival was that it was focused on interacting with local residents rather than staging famous performers.

[Reporter]
Mike Balfour

The Jeju Batdam Festival was an opportunity to learn of the Jeju’s people's lives and the importance of the island’s stone culture.

Mike Balfour KCTV