The Revival of Magic 'Magic Convention' Held ... The 18th Busan International Magic Festival

June 30 - July 2 at Busan Cinema Center: International Magic Competition, Gala Show, Magic Talk Show, Magic Lounge

July 1-2 at Haeundae Gunan-ro: The 5th International Magic Busking Championship to be held concurrently

The Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan International Magic Festival Organizing Committee (Executive Chairman Kang Yeol-woo) will hold the ‘18th Busan International Magic Festival (BIMF) Magic Convention’ for three days from June 30 to July 2 at the Busan Cinema Center.

Poster for the 18th Busan International Magic Festival.

This event features a variety of programs including ▲‘International Magic Competition’ showcasing emerging magicians stepping onto the global stage ▲‘Magic Gala Show’ featuring top magicians from home and abroad ▲‘Magic Talk Show’ discussing the history of Korean magic ▲‘Lecture’ by Starman from Argentina, the winner of the 2018 FISM World Championship of Magic (FISM WCM) ▲and ‘Magic Lounge’ where audiences can experience magic firsthand.

In particular, the ▲‘International Magic Competition,’ a gateway for emerging magicians, is a fresh and innovative magic contest performed by new magicians aiming for the world stage. It will be held more specially under the name ‘FISM QC (Qualified Contest) BIMF,’ the first in Korea to be certified by the F?d?ration Internationale des Soci?t?s Magiques (FISM).

A total of 24 finalists selected through preliminary screening will participate in the competition. Judges, including Andrea Baioni, president of FISM from Italy, and other representatives and experts from FISM, will strictly evaluate the contestants applying the same rules as the World Championship of Magic.

The opening event of the Busan International Magic Festival, the ▲‘Magic Gala Show,’ will feature Korea’s comic icon magician Kim Min-hyung, Lee Young-woo who will present refined and artistic card magic, the absolute master of street magic juggling Oh Jang-wook, Germany’s Nikolai, Spain’s Ramo & Alegria, and Italy’s Dario Ediletta, offering a new form of magic performance that fuses musical and magic genres.

At the ▲‘Magic Talk Show,’ author Baek Hyun-chung, who wrote ‘The Origin of Imagination, Magic,’ will participate to discuss the origins of magicians and the history of Korean magic. The ▲‘Lecture’ will be delivered by Argentina’s Starman, who will showcase his unique and symbolic magic techniques through playful games. The ▲‘Magic Lounge’ consists of various experiential programs such as the unicycle performance ‘Woongseong Woongseong Show’ and tarot card readings using trump cards.

Additionally, the 5th International Magic Busking Championship, a side event of the 18th Busan International Magic Festival, will be held free of charge from July 1 to 2 at Gunam-ro, Haeundae.

Curtain call scene of the 17th BIMF Magic Gala Show performance.

Kim Ki-hwan, Director of the Culture and Sports Bureau, stated, “Our city will continue to strive to revitalize the local tourism industry and economy through the Hallyu culture of magic tourism content.”

Tickets for BIMF can be purchased through the ‘YES24 Performance Homepage.’ For more details, please refer to the official website and social media or contact the Busan International Magic Festival Secretariat.

This year’s Busan International Magic Festival will continue with ‘Magic Circus (Spring)’ from April to June, followed by ‘Magic Circus (Autumn)’ every Saturday and Sunday at Spo1 Park from September to October. From September 29 to October 1, during the Chuseok holiday, a family-friendly Hangawi Magic Fantasia will be held at the Busan Citizens Hall Small Theater.