'Goyurye' ceremony at Gwangju Hyanggyo and Sungnyelljeon marks launch of 9th elected-term administration
Gwangju city held a traditional Confucian inaugural rite known as "goyurye" at Gwangju Hyanggyo and Sungnyelljeon on Tuesday to mark the start of Mayor Park Kwan-yeol's term, along with that of Gwangju City Council Speaker Park Sang-yeong and council members.
About 50 people attended, including Sim Do-sik, director of Gwangju Hyanggyo, and Lee Dan-u, chairman of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association, as well as local Confucian scholars and officials. The gathering offered prayers for the success of the newly launched city administration and council.
The goyurye is a traditional Confucian ritual in which important events are reported to ancestral shrines or deities. Historically, newly appointed local magistrates would visit the local hyanggyo — a Confucian school — to perform rites before the sages and pledge faithful governance.
Mayor Park, Speaker Park and the council members performed the rite and pledged to carry out their duties faithfully, honor the will of residents, and devote themselves to regional harmony and development.
"I was reminded again of my responsibility as a public servant dedicated to the people," Mayor Park said. "I will listen closely to the voices of residents and lead the city administration with sincerity for the development of Gwangju and the happiness of its citizens."
Speaker Park also pledged to do his utmost in council activities for residents. "I will communicate and cooperate closely with the executive branch to work toward Gwangju's development and an improved quality of life for its citizens," he said.
Meanwhile, the city plans to use the occasion as a springboard to carry on the value of local traditional culture and systematically preserve and develop its historical and cultural heritage.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
