[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The '38th Korea Theater Festival in Sejong' will be held from August 29 to September 20 in Sejong Special Autonomous City (Sejong City), the administrative capital. This is the first time the Korea Theater Festival is being held in Sejong City. The festival is hosted by Sejong Special Autonomous City, the Korea Arts Council, and the Korea Theater Association, and organized by the Korea Theater Association and the Korea Theater Festival Executive Committee.
The Korea Theater Festival began as the National Theater Festival in 1983 and has continued for 38 years, changing to its current name in 2016. This year’s festival was originally scheduled for June but was postponed to August due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The slogan for this year’s festival is "Unfolding the Theater PAN at the Eaves of the World." It signifies creating a stage for harmony between artists and Sejong citizens through theater, which represents basic performing arts in Sejong. The festival consists of the "main performances" by regional representative theater companies selected through national preliminaries, the newly established incubating program for next-generation theater artists called the "Networking Festival," and various cultural events that bring theater closer to the public and allow citizens to participate.
The "Networking Festival," a challenge stage for next-generation theater artists, limits the age of participating directors to 40 years or younger (born on or after January 1, 1981) to expand opportunities for emerging theater artists this year. Through a first round of document screening and a second round of public evaluation, 10 groups will be selected. Selected groups will receive a support fund of 3 million KRW, as well as support for venues and performance promotion. Applications are open until the 29th, and detailed information about the application can be found on the Korea Theater Association website.
In anticipation of the festival’s opening D-100 day (May 20), a comment event will also be held. Participants can join the event by following the festival’s official Facebook account and leaving a comment with the correct answer to a Korean consonant quiz and a message supporting the festival. The event runs for ten days starting from D-100, and 38 winners will be drawn to receive prizes. Detailed information about the event can be found on the official website and official Facebook page of the '38th Korea Theater Festival in Sejong.'
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