Seoul's prehistoric roots come alive at 3-day Gangdong festival

Gangdong-gu said the 31st Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival concluded successfully after running Friday through Sunday at the Amsa-dong historic site and Amsa History Park in Seoul.

This year's festival was organized around the theme "The Beginning of Seoul, Amsa," with the aim of highlighting the historical value of prehistoric culture through arts and cultural programs for visitors of all ages. The event drew particular attention as the only festival in Seoul designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a "2026–2027 preliminary festival," a status that pushed organizers to emphasize the event's distinct identity and differentiated programming.

At the Amsa-dong historic site, visitors could immerse themselves in the daily life and culture of prehistoric times. Programs including a Neolithic archaeology school, prehistoric barbecue and pit-house building activities gave children and families a hands-on look at how people lived in the Stone Age.

Talk concerts exploring prehistoric culture also drew strong audience interest. On Saturday, archaeologist Gwak Min-su and webtoon artist Lee Jong-beom took the forest stage for "Prehistoric Times: Curious Stories (WHY?)," sharing engaging tales about archaeology and ancient culture with the crowd. On Sunday, a special showing of the roving cultural concert series tied to the festival's "Prehistoric Baduk: The Divine Move" experience program featured the "Lee Se-dol Talk Concert: The Divine Move." The 9-dan Go master shared stories from his career and his famous match against AlphaGo, then fielded questions from pre-registered audience members.

Performances bringing together residents and local artists rounded out the daytime program. The Gangdong District Arts Ensemble gave an invited performance, and the event also featured a reenactment of "Bawuijeol Village Hosang Nori" — Seoul's intangible heritage No. 10 — alongside a festival for families with disabilities titled "Prehistoric Land Full of Comb-Pattern Pottery" and the Gangdong Prehistoric Song Contest, all celebrating the district's arts and culture.

After dark, a light festival set against the natural landscape of the Amsa-dong historic site welcomed visitors each evening. Four themed sections were woven into a single narrative, guiding visitors along a forest path through a sequence of light installations, music and video. The experience blended the spatial character of the ancient site — where traces of prehistoric culture remain — with contemporary light art, offering a mood distinct from the daytime festivities.

Concerts bookended the three-day event. The opening ceremony on Friday featured a drone show followed by performances by Space A, Wax and Seol Undo. The closing ceremony on Sunday brought out So Chan-whee, Shin Hyo-beom and Nam Jin for a stage spanning multiple generations, and the festival ended with a fireworks show.

"This year, under the theme 'The Beginning of Seoul, Amsa,' we prepared a wide range of programs — from prehistoric cultural experiences to performances and nighttime content — and I am deeply grateful to the residents and visitors who came out," Gangdong-gu District Mayor Lee Su-hee said. She added that the district would build on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's preliminary festival designation to strengthen the event's distinctive programming, with the goal of growing it from a leading historical and cultural festival in Seoul into a nationally representative cultural tourism festival.