The 2010 Great Baekje World Festival only two months away!

Get ready for the Great Baekje World Festival, an incredible blend of historical and cultural events that will transport you back into the glory of the Baekje Kingdom (18 BC - 660 AD).

This year’s festival, held under the theme “The Revival of Great Baekje: 1,400 Years Later,” will be held at Gomanaru Ferry at Gongju City and the Baekje Cultural Complex of Buyeo County in Chungcheongnam-do Province. The official opening ceremony will take place on September 17th, followed by 30 days of events celebrating one of Korea’s most prominent founding kingdoms.

Highlights of the festival include performances of “Sama Iyagi” and “Sabimir.” “Sama Iyagi” is the story of the great naval hero “Sama,” presented in an epic show that uses the Gomanaru Ferry at Geumgang River as its backdrop. In the on-the-water media performance “Sabimir,” the beauty of Baekje’s cultural heritages will unfold before your eyes, including Buyeo Geumdong Dae Hyangro (the gilt-bronze incense burners of Buyeo). Two hundred skilled professional actors and actresses make these two stunning performances a gripping representation of the beautiful story of Korea’s proud and vibrant past.

In the “Digital Pavilion of Baekje’s Cultural Heritages,” lost relics of the kingdom will be restored and displayed in digital images; at the “Special Exhibition of Baekje’s Cultural Heritages” 150 relics will be on display. At the “World Historical Cities Exhibition Pavilion” visitors will have a chance to learn about the history and cultures of major cities throughout the world. Visitors wanting an even more interactive experience are encouraged to check out “A Day at Ungjinseng Fortress” or “A Day at Sabiseong Palace,” to relive the daily lives of Korean forefathers and partake in a variety of events and performances.

At the Baekje Cultural Festival, history will come to life before your very eyes as the “Great Baekje Mounted Military Corps Parade” passes by within arm’s length and soldiers take the field for a new and improved reenactment of “Hwangsanbeol Battle,” a historic battle pitting 5,000 Baekje soldiers against 50,000 Shilla troops.

Local groups and associations will also be adding their unique flavor to the festivities. Members of the World’s Historic Cities and representatives of countries who had close ties with the Baekje kingdom have also been invited to give special presentations at this year’s Great Baekje World Festival.