2020 Hanguk Munhwa Festival to Be Enjoyed Online... Opening on the 10th of Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 27th that it will hold the '2020 Korean Culture Festival' from October 10 to November 29 in collaboration with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange.

The Korean Culture Festival, held for the first time this year, was organized to actively foster and promote Hallyu and tourism content with the goals of 'co-growth of related industries' and 'improving the favorability of Hallyu' under the government's new Hallyu promotion policy. It aims to expand the interest of Hallyu fans, who have been concentrated on certain areas such as K-pop, to Korean culture as a whole. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, this event will be held online.

This year's festival begins with the 'Incheon INK Festival' held in Incheon on October 10. The event will promote K-pop performances as well as local foods and popular tourist attractions representing Incheon online. Additionally, in the 'Virtual Travel with Viewers' segment, K-pop singers will communicate in real time by directly answering audience questions and requests.

In November, cultural experience videos showcasing the unique characteristics of four tourism hub cities?Mokpo, Jeonju, Gangneung, and Andong?will be released daily (except Sundays) on the YouTube channel SBS Entertainment. Foreign language subtitles will also be provided.

Popular domestic celebrities, including K-pop singers, will visit the four cities as travel guides to introduce local foods, tourist spots, unique experiences, and Hallyu content that reflect the cities' distinctive atmospheres and features.

From November 8 to 29, every Sunday night, K-pop performances set against the backdrop of the four tourism hub cities will be broadcast on the SBS channel. These performances will also be available on the official Korean Culture Festival website.

The event will also promote an 'online market' exhibition to provide practical support for small and medium-sized enterprises and local businesses struggling due to COVID-19, helping them overcome the crisis and develop sales channels. Throughout November, related industry products such as cosmetics, food products, consumer goods, and regional specialty products will be sold at discounted prices in the online market.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, "We plan to hold the Korean Culture Festival annually as an event that can enhance the sustainability and ripple effects of the new Hallyu by linking regional resources and expanding interactive cultural exchanges."