"Even a Typhoon Would Be Welcome": Ulju Farmers Hold Rain Ritual Amid Severe Drought

"Pull water from the east, pull water from the west. Break through, break through, open the water gates."

At 4:00 p.m. yesterday (the 5th), with a heat wave advisory in effect across all of Ulsan, the spirited sounds of a traditional percussion troupe and prayers for rain echoed through Chisullyong pass in Dudong-myeon, Ulju-gun.

Some 150 residents of Dudong-myeon, anxious over the relentless and severe drought, gathered under a tent hastily set up to escape the scorching sunlight.

They came to hold a rain ritual to soothe the burning hearts of farmers and pray for rain.

The rain ritual, organized by the Dudong-myeon Development Council, opened with a pre-ceremony performance aimed at driving away the bad luck of the drought.

A folk singer prayed to the heavens for refreshing rain with heartrending lyrics, singing, "Oh heavens, oh divine spirits, send rain upon this land and save our people."

Residents who had been sitting with stern expressions, worried about their crops, finally smiled at the lyrics wishing for relief, nodding their heads and clapping to the rhythm.

In the ensuing ritual, Han Jae-seok, an advisor to the Dudong-myeon Development Council, served as the chief officiant and offered a cup of wine to the deities of heaven and earth.

After the chief officiant, second officiant, and final officiant sequentially offered cups and bowed, they vigorously scattered the prepared five grains, praying for an abundant autumn harvest.

Near the end of the ceremony, a unique visual display was held, igniting smoke grenades to simulate rain clouds.

Farmers watching the scene bowed their heads to the bare ground with earnest hearts, yearning for much-needed rain.

Farmers interviewed at the site of the rain ritual expressed their frustration over the reality that even the water needed for farming has completely dried up.

A 78-year-old resident surnamed Kim, who has farmed all his life in Hawolpyeong Village, Dudong-myeon, described the mood, saying, "The reservoirs have completely dried up, leaving no moisture in the rice paddies whatsoever, to the point where if you pull on the rice seedlings, they come right out by the root. Every household, whether raising cattle or growing feed crops, is facing an emergency."

Kim sighed, "How desperate things must be that we feel like we'd rather have a typhoon come and generously pour down some rain. I attended the rain ritual clutching at straws."

Local government officials also attended the site on this day and promised to come up with emergency measures.

Kim Tae-ho, head of the Agricultural Policy Division at Ulju-gun, promised, "We are currently mobilizing 10 water trucks in the district to continuously supply water. We will prioritize supporting facilities such as water pumps and emergency funds that residents need."

Jeong Woo-sik, chairman of the Ulju-gun Council, also promised that the county council would establish drought countermeasures, stating, "Even the heavens must understand the frustration of the farmers."

The organizers explained that the rain ritual was held for the first time in more than a decade due to the severe drought.

Lee Bong-geun, president of the Dudong-myeon Development Council, explained, "Even when it didn't rain recently, it was never this bad; the situation is scorching us too severely. We decided to hold the rain ritual with the hope of comforting the residents' hearts and having our earnest prayers reach the deities of heaven and earth so that refreshing rain falls as soon as possible."

According to meteorological authorities, precipitation in the Ulsan area last month was 28.0 mm, reaching only 12% of the average year level (234.1 mm).

Because of this, as of the 5th, the average water storage rate of 82 reservoirs in the Ulsan area dropped to 37.4%, which is 48.6% compared to average years.

Among them, 11 locations are at the "severe" stage, where the current storage rate compared to the average year storage rate is under 40%.

Fortunately, rain is forecasted for Ulsan on the coming 9th, with a precipitation probability of around 60%.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.