🔥 [Culture Column] Burning the Daljip – A Collective Prayer Through Fire
On the night of Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, Koreans have long held a fire ritual known as daljip taeugi — the burning of a “moon house.” Giant wooden structures are built in open fields or along the coast, filled with old papers and handwritten wishes. Once ignited, they burst into towering flames as people pray for good fortune and the banishment of bad luck.
This is far from a simple bonfire. In Korean tradition, fire symbolizes purification, renewal, and beginnings. The burning flame is believed to cleanse away the misfortunes of the past year. It’s said that “a well-burning daljip means a bountiful harvest,” and the strength and direction of the fire often served as a folk method of divination.
What’s especially unique about daljip taeugi is its communal nature. Villagers come together to build the structure, gather around the fire, and share their wishes. Fire, though inherently destructive, becomes a tool of unity and healing when ritualized in this way.
Even today, regions like Namhae and Pohang continue this tradition during seasonal festivals. Many events now incorporate fireworks and tourist-friendly programs, blending modern spectacle with ancient custom to form a new cultural experience.
In a rapidly changing world, people still gather before fire to send off silent wishes. Daljip taeugi is not just a folk event — it's a vivid symbol of Korea’s deep connection to fire and to one another.
