District opens car-free Banpo-daero area (Seocho Station Intersection to Seocho 3-dong Intersection, 1km) for 2 days from the 16th
‘Seocho is the Music’ features 30 programs with over 800 performers showcasing cultural and artistic performances - ‘Largest Sketchbook on Earth’ where artists and visitors draw together on the theme of ‘music’ receives great response
Seocho Symphony Orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall, Kim Sohyun & Son Junho, Zico’s closing performance, ‘Fireworks Finale’
Seocho District Mayor Jeon Seongsu: “Seocho’s representative music festival with richer music and cultural performances”
The ‘Seoripul Festival,’ which heated up the Banpodaero area in Seocho-gu with music over two days from the 16th to the 17th, successfully concluded by offering a variety of music, sights, and entertainment.
With this, it has firmly established itself as a high-quality music festival, securing its reputation as the nation’s only music cultural district.
Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced that approximately 120,000 citizens and tourists attended the ‘2023 Seoripul Festival,’ held for the first time in four years.
This year, under the theme ‘Seocho is the Music,’ 30 programs and about 800 performers welcomed audiences with diverse musical gifts on the 10-lane Banpodaero, the central axis of K-classical music. It was a communication festival where various music genres such as classical, jazz, pop, and EDM were enjoyed in one place, and a festival of integration and harmony where Buddhist, Christian, and Catholic choirs performed together.
Also, on the approximately 1 km car-free section of Banpodaero, it was a festival where people could momentarily escape daily life and freely enjoy music and art. On the first day of the festival, the ‘Largest Sketchbook on Earth’ transformed the Banpodaero asphalt into a musical carpet. This year, a graffiti team created impressive artwork through retouching. Along with this, children drew pictures with chalk on the boulevard, creating unforgettable memories, which received great enthusiasm.
Additionally, at the ‘Library on the Staff Lines,’ numerous children enjoyed free reading on bean bags arranged like musical notes, and they expressed their excitement freely at the ‘EDM Kindergarten.’
At the opening performance, the ‘Liberte Pops Orchestra,’ ‘Fortena,’ and singer ‘Kim Jong-kook’ took the stage to deliver intense energy.
On the last day of the festival, the 17th, the 60-member ‘Seocho Symphony Orchestra’ delivered a high-quality performance under the baton of Maestro Bae Jong-hoon. Ahead of their special commemorative performance for the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance next month at Carnegie Hall in New York, the ‘Seocho Symphony Orchestra’ captivated the audience with pieces such as the ‘William Tell Overture’ and ‘Sunshine Samba.’
Also, the musical gala show featuring famous musical actors Kim So-hyun and Son Jun-ho, and a stage by the talented rapper ‘Zico’ followed. Finally, the festival concluded with a fireworks party of 50,000 fireworks illuminating the night sky over Banpodaero.
Throughout the two days, busking performances showcased the hidden talents of young artists. The ‘4PIANOS,’ featuring four pianists playing on four grand pianos, attracted the eyes and ears of visitors.
In addition, the festival added meaning by aiming to be an ‘eco-friendly festival without plastic use’ to tackle waste, including initiatives like the ‘Tumbler Day Truck.’
Yu Areum (42), who participated in the festival, said, “From the sketchbook zone and experience zone where children can enjoy, to cultural performances that adults can enjoy together, I had the best weekend this year.”
The festival also welcomed delegations from overseas sister cities, including District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the Sisli district of Istanbul, Turkey.
Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “I am pleased that the Seoripul Festival, held for the first time in four years, brought joy to all generations with musical gifts throughout Banpodaero,” adding, “Next year, the Seoripul Festival will return with even richer music and cultural performances.”
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