Youth Enterprise Awards at Opening Ceremony on 19th
Market, Exhibition, and Experience All in One Place
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 18th that, together with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, it will hold the '1st Newtro Festival - Today Tradition,' where visitors can enjoy a traditional culture market, exhibitions, and experiences, from the 19th of this month to the 26th of next month at Culture Station Seoul 284 in Jung-gu, Seoul.
'The 1st Newtro Festival - Today Tradition' Poster[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
This event was planned as the 'Newtro Festival' with the meaning of experiencing freshness from the old and enjoying traditional culture in a new way.
At the event, various results of the traditional culture promotion projects carried out by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Foundation over the past three years will be showcased, including support for youth startups in the traditional culture sector, promotion of the hanbok and hanji culture industries, and the spread of traditional play culture.
The central hall of Culture Station Seoul 284 is decorated with the traditional story 'The Moon, the Cinnamon Tree, and the Rabbit' as a motif to welcome the Year of the Rabbit. The event space is divided into five sections: 'Usefully,' 'Vividly,' 'Beautifully,' 'Happily,' and 'Healthily.'
Cultural products made by youth startup companies will be sold, media art titled 'Shinsaekchangyeon' themed on mother-of-pearl lacquerware and Joseon royal bojagi (wrapping cloth) will be exhibited, and hanok and hanbok content videos will be screened using the virtual space (Zepeto).
The unique beauty and taste of traditional culture such as hanbok, Korean cuisine, and hanji will be showcased, and visitors can also experience traditional games such as ttakji-chigi (paper tile flipping) featured in the Netflix drama 'Squid Game,' as well as yutnori, jegichagi, and bisachigi.
During the event period, various activities such as making coloring books and hanji mobiles will be continuously operated. At the plaza of Culture Station Seoul 284, a traditional play festival including tuho (arrow throwing) and jwibulnori (fire spinning) will also be held. To celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, visitors who wear hanbok to enter the exhibition hall during the holiday period will receive souvenirs.
The opening ceremony will be held on the 18th, one day before the event starts. At the opening ceremony, Jeon Byeonggeuk, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will award the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award to outstanding youth startup companies in the traditional culture field. The Minister’s Award will be given to Pound Corporation Co., Ltd., which developed a product combining incense from the Joseon Dynasty and modern incense sticks (hyangchim). Certificates will be awarded to 11 excellent early-stage youth startup companies including the award-winning company and 38 prospective startups selected through a startup idea contest.
Vice Minister Jeon Byeonggeuk said, "Ahead of the major Lunar New Year holiday, I hope this event will raise public interest in traditional culture and inspire imagination among young people."
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