Saturday: Hardy hikers may enjoy a trip to Mount Gyeryong, one of South Chungcheong’s tallest peaks.
In Korean, the mountain’s name means “Rooster Dragon” because of its rocky crags, which form the shape of a rooster’s comb and a dragon’s back. There will be a festival this weekend to honor the spirit said to reside in the mountain, Gyerong Sanshin-je. The shamanistic rituals that go along with the festival will be held at Shinwon Temple, just south of Gongju City in the west end of the park.
The Mount Gyeryong National Park opened in 1968. It features picturesque valleys and temples typical of Korean mountainous regions. The rituals of the festival get underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The Korean shamanistic ritual, called a gut, will be a highlight of the event, which will also include performances, music and parties. The grand finale will be held Monday morning. Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch member David Mason, a professor at Kyung Hee University, will be attending the event. Those interested can contact him at mntnwolf@yahoo.com.
To get to the event, take a bus to Gongju Terminal, then a city bus to Shinwon Temple.