Uljin-gun to hold 2026 Suto Culture Festival on Saturday

Uljin-gun in North Gyeongsang Province will hold the 2026 Uljin Suto Culture Festival on Saturday at Daepungheон and the surrounding area of Giseong-myeon, the county announced Tuesday. The event honors the history and spirit of the suto inspectors — officials dispatched during the Joseon Dynasty to guard Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

The festival was organized to reenact the inspectors' departure and the conduct of their missions, raising public awareness of Uljin's suto history and reaffirming the value of the region's historical and cultural heritage.

The centerpiece event, the "Suto Inspector Departure Procession," features participants in Joseon naval dress marching from the Suto Culture Rest Area to Daepungheон, recreating the scene of the inspectors setting out on their mission.

Before the procession, a traditional ritual called the "suto goyuje" will be held at the Dokdo sculpture plaza at the entrance to Daepungheон. The ceremony reenacts the ritual in which the inspectors reflected on the significance of their mission and prayed for a safe return before sailing to Ulleungdo, adding historical weight to the occasion.

Local arts organizations from Uljin will also present traditional and contemporary performances alongside a range of hands-on programs. Visitors are expected to gain a vivid sense of Uljin's history and traditional culture through the performances and activities.

"Uljin is a historic site from which suto inspectors set out for Ulleungdo and Dokdo during the Joseon Dynasty, and through cultural heritage sites including Daepungheон, visitors can explore the history and patriotic spirit of that era," Uljin-gun County Chief Hwang I-ju said. "Through this Suto Culture Festival, we will work to spread awareness of the historical significance of the suto inspectors and develop the event into a cultural festival that represents the region."