Celebrate the Magic of Korea 🎭 Unforgettable Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival 2025

🎪 Celebrate Baudeogi, The Original K-Star of Joseon! (Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival 2025)

The Greatest Entertainer of Her Time at the 2025 Namssadang Baudeogi Festival in Anseong**

Where Korea’s Folk Heritage, Passion, and Energy Come Alive 🎉

Long before BTS and K-Pop took the world by storm,
there was Baudeogi (1848–1870) — Korea’s first-ever female performing arts leader
and the brightest star of the Joseon era.

At just 15 years old, she led the Namssadang troupe —
a group of traveling performers who sang, danced, juggled, and made the nation laugh.
Today, her spirit lives on through the Namssadang Baudeogi Festival,
a vibrant celebration of Korea’s folk arts, music, and joy.

Held every October in Anseong, the birthplace of the Namssadang troupe,
this is one of Korea’s most authentic and energetic traditional festivals.

🌸 Overview of Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival 2025

The Anseong Namssadang Baudeogi Festival began in 2001
to honor the artistry and passion of Baudeogi,
the legendary female kkokdu-sae (leader of the troupe).

Anseong is the spiritual home of the Namssadang —
a performing group designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 3
and listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Visitors can enjoy traditional street performances, puppet plays, folk orchestras,
creative theater, international folk shows, and family programs
— all in one joyful celebration.

🏮 Anseong – The Heart of Korea’s Folk Performing Arts

“A UNESCO-recognized festival where Korea’s vibrant folk traditions meet today’s creative spirit.”

Anseong has long been a hub of trade, art, and entertainment since the Joseon era.
The saying “Anseong Matchum” — meaning “perfectly tailored” —
comes from this city’s craftsmanship and lively marketplace culture.

The festival’s name honors Baudeogi,
the teenage girl who became the idol of Joseon,
mastering every form of Namssadang performance — from tightrope walking to puppetry.
She was truly the original K-star, the “Queen of the Streets,”
and her legacy still inspires artists across generations.

🪈 What Is Namssadang Nori?

Namssadang Nori (남사당놀이) consists of six thrilling performance arts,
each full of rhythm, laughter, and breathtaking skill:

• Pungmul (Percussion Parade) – Drums, gongs, and cymbals that fill the air with rhythm

• Beona (Plate Spinning) – Acrobatics and balancing acts with flair

• Salpan (Acrobatics) – Tumbling, flips, and high-energy movement

• Eoreum (Tightrope Walking) – The art of balance and daring

• Deotboegi (Mask Play) – Satirical drama with masked characters

• Deolmi (Puppet Show) – Wit and humor through traditional puppetry

Together, they form the heartbeat of Korea’s folk culture —
a performance tradition that inspired modern theater, K-variety, and K-entertainment.

🎭 Festival History & Highlights

Since its launch in 2001,
the festival has been hosted by Anseong City and the Namssadang Baudeogi Festival Committee.
It takes place every October at Anseong Machum Land and throughout the city.

Recognized four consecutive years by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism
as an Excellent Cultural Tourism Festival,
this event continues to grow as one of Korea’s most dynamic heritage celebrations.

📅 2025 Official Schedule

• Baudeogi Memorial Ritual – Oct 8 (Wed) 10:00 | Baudeogi Shrine

• Street Parade (Gilnori) – Oct 8 (Wed) 18:00–19:30 | A-yang-dong streets

• Opening Eve Concert – Oct 8 (Wed) 19:30–21:30 | Naehehol Square

• Opening Ceremony – Oct 9 (Thu) 10:30–11:00 | Main Gate

• Grand Opening Show – Oct 9 (Thu) 19:00–21:00 | Main Stage (Feat. Song Ga-In, An Seong-Hun)

• Closing Ceremony – Oct 12 (Sun) 19:00–21:00 | Main Stage

🎵 Main Performances

From thrilling tightrope acts to large-scale musical collaborations —
the festival’s performances are packed with color, rhythm, and emotion.

• Namssadang Double Tightrope Show – Pure adrenaline under the open sky

• Main Thematic Performance (Ticketed) – Oct 9, 14:00–15:30 | Indoor Hall

• Traditional Yeonhui (Folk Performance) Festival – Oct 9–12 | Main Stage

• Cultural City of Anseong Series – Oct 9–12 | Evening Shows

• World Friendship Stage – Oct 12 | International performances celebrating global unity

🎨 Hands-On Experiences

This isn’t a festival to just watch — it’s one to join in!

• Baudeogi Theme Park – Try tightrope walking yourself!

• East Asian Culture Zone – Hands-on art & craft programs from Korea, Japan, and China

• Eco Experience Booth – Learn about zero waste and recycling

• Traditional Farming Zone – Try threshing rice and making straw crafts

• Hanbok Experience – Wear traditional Korean clothing for stunning photos

• Korean Folk Games – Spin tops, fold paper ddakji, or kick jegi with the locals!

🎉 Special Events

• The Next Baudeogi – A creative stage for the next generation of folk artists

• Citizen Arts Stage & Korea-China-Japan Friendship Stage

• Retro Star Joint Concert – Oct 10 (Fri) 19:00 | Anseongcheon Riverside Stage

• 100 Saxophones Ensemble – Oct 11–12 | Riverside Stage

• Baudeogi Archive Exhibition – Discover her life through photos and stories

• Anseong Culture Market FESTA – Handmade crafts, art, food, and performances

🍜 Food & Local Market – Taste the Soul of Anseong

Come hungry — leave happy! 😋

This year’s food zone moves to the scenic riverside area near Ban-dal Stage
with wider, cleaner, and greener spaces.

🍲 Food Highlights:

• Authentic Korean meals: Beef soup (Hanwoo Gukbap), rice cakes, and local dishes

• Pub-style Jumak Alley for traditional snacks and drinks

• World Food Corner with dishes from Spain, Russia, Thailand, and the U.S.

🌿 Eco-Friendly Promise:
Reusable cups and containers, transparent pricing, and friendly service.
All prices are posted publicly — so you can enjoy good food at good prices!

🍇 Local Market:
Buy fresh local specialties directly from farmers — rice, pears, grapes, sweet potatoes, jujubes, and honey.
Spend over ₩50,000 and receive a free eco shopping bag!

🥩 NEW this year: “Grill Zone” —
Buy fresh Korean beef, pork, or duck and grill it right on site.
It’s farm-to-table, the Anseong way.

🚗 Getting There

📍 Address: 198 Namsadang-ro, Bogae-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
📞 Festival Info: +82-31-678-5414

🚘 By Car

• Gyeongbu Expressway → Anseong IC → Anseong

• Pyeongtaek-Jecheon Expressway → West Anseong IC or South Anseong IC

• Sejong-Pocheon Expressway → Anseong-Machum IC
  (Approx. 1 hour from Seoul)

🅿️ Large Buses: Use Anseong Sports Complex Parking (P14-1)
after passenger drop-off (no large bus parking at festival grounds).

🚇 By Subway

Line 1 → Pyeongtaek Station → Take Bus 370 or 380 → Get off at Hankyung University or Sports Complex → Free Shuttle Bus

🚌 By Intercity Bus

Get off at Anseong Bus Terminal or Hankyung University → Free Shuttle Bus to Festival

🌐 Official Information

• Official Website: https://www.anseong.go.kr/festival/contents.do?mId=0201000000

• Phone: +82-31-678-5414

• Fax: +82-31-678-5999

The website provides maps, shuttle bus schedules, and real-time festival updates in Korean and English.

✨ Why You’ll Love It

At the Namssadang Baudeogi Festival,
you don’t just watch — you dance, laugh, taste, and feel Korea’s living culture.

From the pulse of the drums to the sizzling barbecue scents,
from the sparkle of lanterns to the laughter of street performers,
this festival is pure, joyful chaos in the best possible way.

So pack your curiosity and your camera,
and come experience where Korea’s soul of performance still shines —
in Anseong, the home of the original K-star, Baudeogi! 🎭💫

✨ Check Out These Amazing Korean Festivals Too!

If you’re loving the energy and heritage of the Namssadang Baudeogi Festival in Anseong, don’t miss out on these other spectacular Korean festivals happening in 2025:

• Spectacular Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival 2025
  A dazzling display of over 70,000 lanterns along the Namgang River, drone shows, floating lanterns, and immersive light art.
  → Learn more :  Spectacular Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival 2025 | Light, History & Dreams

• Epic Sejong Hangeul Festival 2025
  Celebrate the beauty of Hangeul (Korean alphabet) with performances, air shows, cultural events, and more during the Chuseok–Hangeul Day week.
  → Learn more:   Epic Sejong Hangeul Festival 2025 | Experience The Best Of Chuseok & Hangeul Day

• These festivals are fantastic complements to your Korea trip — each offers its own magic of lights, language, culture, and experience.

🇰🇷 **Want to read this in Korean?**
Check out the full Korean version here 👉
[2025 안성맞춤 남사당 바우덕이 축제 완전 가이드 (한국어판)]2025 안성 남사당 바우덕이 축제 | 천하제일 광대 바우덕이와 유네스코 무형문화유산 남사당놀이