"World in Turmoil, Return of the Hero," Korea's Representative Cultural Tourism Festival 'Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2022' Held

"Everyone Becomes a Hero and Takes to the Streets"

Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2022 Poster.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] The Andong International Mask Dance Festival, which will enliven the autumn of Andong, Gyeongbuk with excitement, style, and affection, will be held as a street festival in the downtown area for five days from September 29 to October 3 under the theme "A World in Turmoil, The Return of the Hero."

Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, healing its pain, and delivering a message of hope, the festival embodies the worldview that everyone is a hero. Everyone steps out onto the streets to take on the role of making a difficult world?a world full of masks?just and beautiful.

The "Andong International Mask Dance Festival" has established itself as a representative festival of Andong and South Korea, gaining recognition for its brand value, but the need for change has been continuously raised.

Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2022, photos from past festivals.

Behind the milestone of surpassing one million festival visitors, there was a crisis where local merchants were pushed to the brink.

A festival can be truly successful only when it satisfies both elements: enhancing the local brand image and revitalizing the local economy.

"Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2022" will transform into a citizen-participatory street festival that takes a step closer to the citizens and a vibrant festival that revitalizes the local economy.

The plan is to create a festival led by citizens and merchants by entering citizens' living spaces and to open a venue where tourists visiting Andong can also mingle together.

Considering the change of venue and the COVID-19 situation, the festival period will be shortened from ten days to five days, utilizing the holiday from September 29 to October 3 (National Foundation Day).

Additionally, bold reforms such as replacing performance admission fees with local currency and substituting existing restaurant booths with local shops in the original downtown area will focus more on the festival’s original purpose of revitalizing the local economy.

The festival will ensure that its hosting directly leads to the revitalization of the local commercial district in the original downtown area, while all events such as various exhibitions, performances, and citizen participation will proceed as usual. Booths from 24 towns, townships, and neighborhoods will be operated to promote local agricultural and specialty products.

The central venue of the festival will be the six-lane Gyeongdong-ro road, which will be closed off from Homeplus to the old Andong Station. Major programs of the Andong International Mask Dance Festival, such as the opening and closing ceremonies, the World Mask Play Contest, and the Daedong Nanjang, will be held there.

Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2022 Past Festival Scenes.

At Ungbu Park and Culture Park, Andong folk festival programs such as traditional folk games and stepping on the brass bridge will mainly take place during the same period.

The old Andong Station square will be arranged as a yard stage to host domestic and international mask dance performances, yard plays, and invited performances. On the Culture Street stage, the World Mask Play Contest, masked busking contest, and free participation performances by local cultural and artistic groups will be held.

At the Wolyeonggyo Gaemoknaru stage, local cultural and artistic performances will be held, and at Hahoe Village, Seonyu Julbulnori (fire rope play) and pre-event performances are planned.

In addition to each base stage, street performances will be actively conducted. A part of the one-way street in front of Shinhan Bank will be closed to create a street of lights and sculptures, and street busking, parades, and voluntary sales booths by merchants will be operated. Through cooperation with merchants throughout the original downtown area, cultural and artistic performances, event performances, and activities utilizing each market and alley will be carried out.

A city official said, "The Andong International Mask Dance Festival aims to be a festival created by locals and consumed by people worldwide, so we intend to pursue bold changes for the locals." He added, "We ask for the citizens’ great interest and participation so that the 'Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2022,' conducted with new attempts, can enhance brand value and contribute to revitalizing the local economy."