The National Folk Museum of Korea and Gyeonggi Province present the special exhibition entitled "What is Gyeonggi Folk Culture!" The exhibition is part of "the Year of Gyeonggi Folk Culture" Project for 2015, and is based on results of surveys and research on Gyeonggi Province, conducted by the National Folk Museum of Korea in 2014.

Gyeonggi Province has long been regarded as an area with favorable conditions, including a big river in the north, a vast plain in the south, high mountains in the east and the coast in the west. With these natural blessings, Gyeonggi Province has enjoyed cultural diversity and diverse lifestyles. Gyeonggi Province also connects Seoul and the provincial areas, serving as Korea's melting pot and accommodating diverse folk cultures.

The exhibition is presented to identify the area's folk cultures including those found at work and play across the four regions of the northern, southern, eastern and western areas of Gyeonggi Province. The exhibition is organized into three sections: 1_About Gyeonggi; 2_Gyeonggi as a Melting Pot; and 3_Gyeonggi as a Trading Center. Visitors can have a trip-like experience to understand the lifestyles and folk cultures of Gyeonggi Province and compare the four regions of the Province.

The exhibition aims to look back on the past and present a resh view on the present of Gyeonggi Province, which has been long been called "the root of the nation (國家根本之地)," and discover the power of Gyeonggi that is leading the future of Korea.

1_About Gyeonggi
"Gyeonggi (京畿)" refers to the region surrounding Seoul.
Gyeonggi Province has served as the political, economic, social and cultural center of the country, called "the root of the nation (國家根本之地)" as it is located at the center of the Korean Peninsula. It has also been the point of connection between Seoul and the provincial areas as it has roads running in all directions (四通八達). It has long served as the trading center of both the cultures and local products (物産) of Korea as well as a strategic military point (要衝地), providing the backdrop of the major historical events and developments of Korea.

2_Gyeonggi as a Melting Pot
Gyeonggi Province has four regions with different natural conditions.
The southern area has huge plains, while the eastern area has high mountains. The northern area has a big river, while the western area has the West Sea coast. Diverse folk cultures have been formed in the region, and folk games of Gyeonggi Province such as Geobuknori, Nongak and Dodanggut have been developed and adapted to Gyeonggi's natural environment.

3_Gyeonggi as a Trading Center
Gyeonggi Province is the trading center of all products made in Korea.
Local products are transported via roads, and the products transported from Seoul to the provincial areas and those transported from the local areas to Seoul all pass through Gyeonggi Province. This is why Gyeonggi Province has long served as the supply route of rice, groceries, fuels, salt and seafood for Seoul (Hanyang). A large market was naturally formed and Yeonhuipae (entertainers) such as Namsadang in the south and Byeolsandae in the north were organized to perform in the market. In addition, local specialty goods were developed in Gyeonggi Province. The ceramics of Yeoju, Icheon and Gwangju; Bandaji (cabinets) of Ganghwado and Yuki (brassware) of Anseong emerged as specialty goods representing not only Gyeonggi Province but all of Korea.

Southern Area
The southern area of Gyeonggi Province boasts the vast plains of Anseong and Pyeongtaek. Residents of the southern area mostly farmed to earn a living, which led to the development of a community culture. Folk games representing the Province such as Geobuknori and Nongak as well as Dure, which is a community labor union, still exist today. The southern area has Samnamro and Yeongnamro, which connect Hanyang and the provincial areas, and big markets were developed in Anseong and Pyeongtaek.

Eastern Area
The eastern area of Gyeonggi Province shares its border with Gangwon Province. As there are high mountains in Gapyeong and Yangpyeong, the area has a unique mountain culture including rutials to serve the guardian spirit of a mountain. Residents here lived in the mountains, and supplied medicinal herbs and firewood to Hanyang (Seoul). There was also heavy traffic of products such as lumber and charcoal between Hanyang and Gangwon Province via the Han River water route.

Northern Area
The northern area of Gyeonggi Province has a big river named the Imjin River. The Imjin River is like a lifeline for the residents of Paju and Yeoncheon. Residents here earn their living by fishing or farming with water from the river. The Imjin River also provided a waterway connecting the West Sea and the northern inland area of the Province. Euijuro, which connects Seoul and Euiju, has served as a main road to the north with heavy traffic of people and goods.

Western Area
The western area of Gyeonggi Province connects to the West Sea, serving as an important route for ships transporting grains as taxes. Residents here earned their living in mudflats and salt fields. Mudflats were rich in seafood thanks to tides, and residents produced and supplied a large volume of salt to Hanyang (Seoul). Dodanggut, which is a ritual ceremony to wish for health, safety, prosperity and a full catch of fish, has been made in the coastal area of the Province.

South
A road from Hanyang stretches toward huge plains. Craftsmen (工匠) and merchants gather together from provincial areas to form a town in the south of Hanyang.

North
A small stream (川) from the south combines with many streams (川) to form a big river flowing to the southwest. The waterway is opened twice a day, crowded with ships and people at the ports.

West
Adjacent to Hanyang, the western area is an affluent region with a large reserve of salt and fish. Hundreds of salt-making houses are scattered along the coast to the south and the north.

East
There are high mountains and deep valleys. This area has a similar terrain to that of Gangwon Province, its neighbor to the east. The mountain ridges are endless and there are deep valleys just like Mount Geumgang.