Ji Shin Balp Ki: Celebration of the First Full Moon

Ji Shin Balp Ki or “stepping on evil spirits”, is a traditional Korean folk festival celebrating the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Historically, folk drummers traveled through villages and visited individual houses to ward of evil spirits.

UC Irvine Hansori, a traditional Korean drumming group, with the support of the Korean Resource Center came together to put on the first Ji Shin Balp Ki procession since the pandemic started. Hansori drummers visited local businesses and major locations to spread good luck around the city.