[Photo] European Traditional Christmas Festival Unfolds in Seongbuk-dong!

Seongbuk-gu to Host the 11th European Christmas Market at Seongbukcheon Fountain Square on December 10-11

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu (third from the left in the front row), declaring the opening with ambassadors and officials from 10 countries participating in the 11th European Christmas Market.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) held the ‘11th European Christmas Market Event’ over two days on the 10th and 11th at the Seongbukcheon Fountain Square.

Returning to the citizens after three years due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, this festival attracted over 30,000 domestic and international visitors who came to experience the unique traditional Christmas festivals of various European countries, showcasing the representative festival of the Gangbuk area.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Christmas Market had been held annually since 2010 as Seongbuk-gu’s representative local festival. It is a ‘global event’ enjoyed by both domestic and foreign residents beyond religious meanings.

This year, embassies from 10 European countries including Germany, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Spain, Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Poland, Finland, and Hungary, along with the nearby merchants’ association, participated to present traditional European Christmas seasonal foods and handmade decorations.

A total of 23 booths were set up where visitors could experience foods and souvenirs from various European countries. Seasonal foods included French sausages, Spanish paella, rum coffee, German Gl?hwein and sausages, Bulgarian meatball steak, Hungarian goulash, vin chaud, meringue cookies, and Czech Malenka traditional honey cake, all of which delighted visitors’ palates. Handmade items included pottery, tablecloths, towels, cups, as well as traditional Christmas decorations from various European countries, attracting those who wanted to enjoy a European-style Christmas.

At the Croatian traditional decoration sales booth, Marko Zoricic, First Secretary of the Embassy of Croatia in Korea, said, “Christmas festivals are very active in Europe, and it is very enjoyable to have an event in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea, where you can enjoy Christmas festivals from various countries all at once.” He added, “I am pleased to be able to showcase Croatia’s traditional decorations.”

Jo Eun-ha (34, from Nowon-gu), who visited with her family to enjoy the festival together, said, “I came with my family because there was a European traditional Christmas festival. My child was very happy to experience the traditional festivals and foods of countries on the world map firsthand, so we will definitely come again next year.”

The opening ceremony at 4 p.m. on the 10th began with the opening declaration by Hans Alexander Kneider, Honorary Mayor of Seongbuk-dong, followed by representatives of diplomats from various countries and key guests celebrating the event together. Additionally, part of the market’s sales proceeds has been donated to multicultural families through the Community Chest of Korea for 10 years, leading the spread of a sharing culture in the local community.

This event particularly scaled down performances and events to proceed in a safe and calm atmosphere. Also, a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) experience booth was separately operated to quickly respond to any possible emergencies, which received great positive feedback from visitors.

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro stated, “The European Christmas Market, the representative winter festival of Seongbuk, a global city with over 10,000 foreign residents, has returned for the 11th time. I hope this will be a place where domestic and foreign residents communicate and reflect on the meaning of peace. Above all, we will thoroughly manage safety around the Seongbukcheon Fountain Square, the global station where the event is held, more strictly than ever to ensure a calm and orderly Christmas event.”