YU International Students Deepen Understanding of Korea Through Dano Cultural Experience N
No.225487284- Writer PR team
- Date : 2025.06.26 18:39
- Publication Date : 2025.06.04
- Views : 3105
PSPS international students participate in the Gyeongsan Jain Danoje Festival
Experience of traditional culture such as rinsing hair with changpo water offers insight into Dano’s meaning
[June 4, 2025]
International students at Yeungnam University (President CHOI Oe-chool) had a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Korean culture.
On May 31, more than 50 international students enrolled in Yeungnam University’s Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) participated in the 2025 Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival, held at Gyejeong Forest in Jain-myeon, Gyeongsan City. They joined in a variety of traditional cultural activities as part of the event.
One of the highlights for the students was participating in the symbolic Dano custom of rinsing hair with changpo (sweet flag) water. This ritual, traditionally associated with wishes for health and protection from misfortune, provided students with hands-on experience of Korea’s cultural heritage. Amid the gentle scent of changpo in the forest, the students engaged with both the tradition and local citizens, sharing in the festive atmosphere.
Dano, celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, is a traditional holiday rooted in Korea’s agrarian past. It marks the completion of rice planting and includes wishes for a plentiful harvest, good health, and protection from the summer heat. Alongside the hair-rinsing ritual, students explored various cultural booths and learned about the wisdom embedded in Korea’s traditional lifestyle
Margarita Yanes Villoria Villegas, a student from Colombia at PSPS, shared her thoughts: “It was amazing to experience firsthand the Korean holiday traditions that I had only read about in books. Experiencing traditional Korean culture, laughing with friends, and interacting with local citizens made today’s memory a truly special part of my life and studies in Korea.”
President CHOI Oe-chool remarked, “It is deeply meaningful that international students were able to understand Korean history and culture by participating in the Dano Festival and forming warm connections with the local community. YU will continue to nurture global talents who contribute to humanity by providing practical education that bridges our region with the world.”