Jeonju Dragon King Feast aims for a local feast which based on ‘tradition’ or ‘traditional culture’. Indeed, ‘tradition’ is the synchronically comparative meaning of ‘modern’ which existed in the definition of the time, yet ‘traditional culture’ is comprehended the cessation of past culture. Tradition and tradition culture, however, are existed and reinterpreted in terms of continuous definition, sometimes reinvented. Some criticism about Jeonju Dragon King Feast begins both actions of ceased the past and reinvention of the present.
The efforts of restore and revitalization of Jeonju Dragon King Feast is an endeavor of understanding the past. This is a cultural movement of the reinventing the tradition. Furthermore, Jeonju Dragon King Feast secured the traditionality already in a historical context. The venue of the feast is entrusted both the religious meaning and network in the point of the present. This is a natural result and the right direction of Jeonju Dragon King Feast.
Jeonju Dragon King Feast is a local festival. The regional festival should be expressing its locality effectively and expose the goals of the festival clearly. In other words, it should be reproducing the traditionality in a modern context, which represents some characteristics of locality. Needless to say, the cultural consensus and solidarity is crucial to help understand Jeonju Dragon King Feast. This is the first directivity of Jeonju Dragon King Feast should be aiming.
Ordinarily, when we define some aspects of festivals, we categorize the inner directed type festival, the outer directed type festival, and two-way type festival. The inner directed festival is focusing on the unity and build up the community spirit, yet intends to stir up historical consciousness and local patriotism. The outer directed type festival is based on the regional characters which emphasized on the revitalization of community and industrial development. It also focused on the promotion of tourism, and reconstruction of local economy. On the contrary, the two-way type festival contributes to build its own identity through inner direction, which seeks the community growth at the same time.
Jeonju Dragon King Feast should have the two-way type festival which aims unidirectional festival. This is the second directivity of Jeonju Dragon King Feast.
The recent trends of the festival contents are one source multi use. The festival space is melting into a story-telling, and cultural symbols are made of distinct images to support the establishment o f identity of the festival. It should be considered and emphasized when the Jeonju Dragon King Feast is carried out. This is the third directivity of Jeonju Dragon King Feast.
Adding a word before I conclude, the Dragon King feast at Deokjin pond in Jeonju city should have a close connection with the Hanok Village which is revving up already. Deokjin pond is located at the entrance of Jeonju city. The tourism of Jeonju city should be starting at Deokjin pond and finishes at the Hanok Village. The contextual historical culture space should be made as a whole. I would like to emphasize the importance of Jeonju Dragon King Feast culturally and as the important cultural motive as well.