Gimhae Celebrates Heritage with Gaya Royal Wedding

The city of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province is drawing significant attention with the announcement that it will be hosting a Gaya Royal Wedding event, marking Visit Gimhae Year. (Image courtesy of Gimhae city)

GIMHAE, Mar. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bid to attract tourists from both within South Korea and abroad, the city of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province is drawing significant attention with the announcement that it will be hosting a Gaya Royal Wedding event, marking Visit Gimhae Year.

The Gimhae Cultural Foundation has revealed plans to unfold this unique marital event at the Gaya Royal Palace in the Gimhae Gaya Theme Park on April 27 at 2 p.m. This initiative is part of the city’s ambitious effort to transition from facility-based to content-driven tourism. 

The Gaya Royal Wedding promises to go beyond a traditional ceremony, offering a rich blend of performances and artistic displays tailored for both local and international visitors. 

Centered around the mythical figures King Suro, the founder of the Gaya Confederacy, and Queen Heo Hwang-ok, who is said to have come from India, the wedding narrative aims to captivate the audience with its storytelling depth. 

To enhance the authenticity and engagement, the Gimhae Cultural Foundation will utilize costumes and props reminiscent of the Gaya period, including royal attire from the foundation’s 2020 opera production, “Queen Heo Hwang-ok.” 

The royal wedding at Gaya Royal Palace will see the involvement of various actors and staff, elevating the event as a cultural and tourist attraction.

In a move to highlight multiculturalism, the city has decided to publicly recruit a multicultural newlywed couple to be the main characters of the “King’s Wedding.”

Gimhae, known for its international diversity with over 20,000 registered foreign residents, encourages multicultural couples residing in the city to apply, regardless of their age or stage in marriage, from newlyweds to those looking to renew their vows. 

Applications are open from March 11 to 25, requiring participants to submit their stories and documents via email (chjh84@ghcf.or.kr). 

The selected couple will enjoy special benefits, including financial support for the wedding expenses, making this a unique opportunity to partake in a cultural celebration deeply rooted in Gimhae’s rich history and heritage.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)