[비즈한국] I have gone to Muju every June. From 2017 to last year, I was always in Muju in early June, except for 2020, when the COVID-19 social distancing was in full swing. Why? To enjoy the Muju Film Festival. You might ask, in a country full of festivals and film festivals, why go all the way to Muju, far from Seoul? If you go, you'll understand. There might be people who haven't been to the Muju Film Festival, but there's a 99% chance that once you've been, you'll visit again.
Why is the Muju Film Festival so special? This film festival, which began in 2013, is literally a festival where you can watch movies against the backdrop of the deep mountains and nature of Muju. Watching a 35mm film under a star-filled sky at the foot of Deogyusan Mountain, dancing to musicians' music at the Wisteria Stadium designed by architect Chung Guyon, and enjoying silent films with live band performances are experiences only possible in Muju. Even the most unromantic "T" personality (in MBTI terms) turns into a "romantic boy or girl" once they soak in the atmosphere here. It is not without reason that this festival is called the "lethal dose of romance film festival."
The 14th Muju Film Festival this year will feature 90 films and various music performances over five days from June 4th to 8th. However, to fully enjoy the Muju Film Festival, you need to be a bit diligent. If you plan to spend time outdoors, such as at Deogyusan Mountain and Wisteria Stadium, you'll need to pack plenty of things, including a picnic mat, a parasol, and warm clothing (Deogyusan Mountain at night is quite cold). While you can pack your bags, you also have to beat the increasingly fierce competition for reservations every year. As the festival's reputation has grown, the number of visitors has increased, and about 30,000 people visited the Muju Film Festival last year. That is more than the population of Muju-gun (about 23,000). So, it's no wonder the competition is fierce.
To start with the conclusion, as of now (May 22nd), most things that can be reserved in advance are already sold out. The one-day passes for Wisteria Stadium, the main spot where various programs such as music performances, outdoor talks, silent film live performances, and mountain bookshops are held, are sold out online. The 'Cine Pass,' which allows for on-site ticketing of up to 3 indoor screenings per day during the festival period, is also sold out. Most of the indoor screenings are also almost entirely booked online. Not only that, but accommodation packages that bundle lodging with a 1-day Wisteria Stadium pass are also completely sold out for the festival period. Most accommodations, which are the most important part, are also fully booked during the festival.
Then why introduce it if it's just a "picture of a cake" (unattainable)? There is still a reason to visit Muju. First of all, if you are with young children, the Muju Film Festival's Kids Stage, with a kids' market, kids' workroom, and outdoor playground, will be a space of fun. The Kids Stage, which was previously held around Hanpungru, has expanded its space to both indoor and outdoor areas starting this year, including the Choe Buk Art Museum and the Muju Imagine Bandi Forest, allowing children and families to enjoy a relaxing time. With diverse programs such as busking performances and animation screenings, families with young children might find more joy by focusing on this section rather than the films.
Even if online pre-reservations for indoor screenings and the Wisteria Stadium are sold out, you can still aim for on-site purchases. Rumor has it that because there is no cancellation fee until the day before the event, a surprisingly large number of canceled tickets are released on the day. Also, the Wisteria Stadium on June 4th, when the opening ceremony and opening film take place, is accessible without a reservation. This year's opening film is Director Kim Jong-kwan's 'Someone Behind the Cloudy Window,' which will be screened in the form of a complex film performance combined with a live performance by music director Lee Tae-hoon. The opening day might be better for fully enjoying the atmosphere of the festival than the crowded Friday or Saturday.
The other main spot, the Deogyusan outdoor screening, can be enjoyed by anyone without a reservation. However, starting this year, for safety reasons, the shuttle bus to and from Deogyusan has been switched to a pre-paid reservation system. This is also mostly sold out for June 5th and 6th, but you can walk up. You can hike up from Muju Gucheon-dong in about 40 minutes as if taking a leisurely stroll. Let's exercise the 'Jang Won-young style of thinking' and see it as an opportunity to take care of both your health and romance. In the case of the biggest obstacle, accommodation, there are rarely some places left on the first day of the festival or on Sunday when many people leave. If you are driving your own car, you can also consider staying in Daejeon or Jeonju, which are an hour away, after enjoying Muju for the day.
Besides the Muju Film Festival, there are many elements to enjoy in Muju. Muju's representative tourist attractions, Bandi Land and the Meoru Wine Cave, are worth visiting, and the Starlight Bridge, which has created night scenery around the Namdaecheon Stream flowing through Muju-eup, is also a great night travel spot for a quiet evening stroll. The filming location of 'Bo-gum Magical,' which was well-received by many as a wholesome variety show earlier this year, is also located in Apsum Village in Muju-eup. The hair salon set where Park Bo-gum, Lee Sang-yi, and Kwak Dong-yeon groomed the residents' hair and nails is well-preserved, making it a great place to pose as a salon customer for photos.
The 'Muju Anseong Nakhwa-nori (Fireworks Festival)' held at Dumun Village in Anseong-myeon, Muju, on June 5th and 6th is a place you won't regret choosing instead of the film festival. Nakhwa-nori is a fireworks display enjoyed over water, and the name was given because the falling sparks look like flowers. It was the event that was held as the highlight of the King's birthday celebration in the early episodes of the recently ended drama 'The 21st Century Princess'. When you hang about 100 to 200 bundles of mulberry wood, charcoal, and salt wrapped in Korean paper (hanji) on a long pole with a string and light them, the fire travels along the string, creating a spectacular view of sparks mixed with the subtle scent of hanji and the crackling sound of burning. Please note that you need to make a reservation in advance through Naver Smart Store to enter.
It is early summer and I want to go somewhere. If you're going to leave, let's go to Muju now to find the romance inside me that was on the verge of extinction. Even though I feel a bit bitter as well as happy that the Muju Film Festival feels like a band I only wanted to know has become a superstar band that everyone loves, and that's why the competition gets fiercer every year, what can you do? That is the heart of a dedicated fan. It is clear that beginners will also fall in love with not only the film festival but also the charm of Muju, which is as attractive as the film festival.