130,000 Visitors at Jeongdong Night Festival on May 24-25... 30,000 More Than Last Year
Reputation of Modern History and Culture Festival with Educational Value Rises↑ Families, Foreigners Visit Nationwide
High-Quality Performances, Lectures, Experiences, and Exhibitions Unavailable Elsewhere... Festival's Brand Power Strong
Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) captivated 130,000 visitors with the ‘Jeongdong Night Walk’ festival held on Jeongdong-gil from the 24th to the 25th. Approximately 30,000 more people enjoyed the festival compared to last year.
The venue was bustling with visitors from across the country exploring Seoul’s historical culture, foreign tourists experiencing traditional Korean culture, families out for spring outings, and young people enjoying the romance of spring nights.
Especially this spring, Jeongdong Night Walk confirmed the festival’s ‘dignity’ and its strengthened ‘brand power.’
A citizen who visited Jeongdong with their whole family said, “Jeongdong Night Walk is a rare festival where you can study history,” adding, “I came to show the children the sites of modern history.”
At Deoksugung Jungmyeongjeon, where the Eulsa Treaty was signed (1905), and the site of the Russian Legation during the Agwan Pacheon (1896), visitors can reflect on painful history. Visitors can also explore various ‘firsts’ in history all at once, such as Paejae Hakdang (1885), the first modern educational institution; Ewha Hakdang (1886), the first private women’s educational institution; Jeongdong First Methodist Church (1887), the first Western-style Protestant church; and Deoksugung Seokjojeon (1910), the first Western-style building, making it a festival known for its educational value.
A district official also stated, “Festivals focused solely on food and entertainment have limitations,” adding, “Jeongdong is distinguished by being a place where modern historical culture blossomed, and the space itself tells a ‘story.’”
High-quality performances blending tradition and modernity drew awe from audiences throughout the venue. The approximately 30,000 increase in visitors compared to last year is also believed to be related to this.
On the 24th at 6 p.m., ‘The Sound of Drums Advancing’ opened spectacularly in the front yard of Jeongdong First Methodist Church, resonating with the majestic sound of traditional Korean drums throughout Jeongdong.
At 7 p.m. on the 24th, about 2,000 spectators gathered for a royal palace concert held in front of Deoksugung Junghwajeon, where the soulful Korean melodies and classical tunes harmonized well with the elegant palace atmosphere.
At the Anglican Cathedral of Seoul, a masterpiece performance on a 100-year-old British pipe organ was held, while in front of the Salvation Army History Museum, a harmony of various wind instruments rarely experienced delivered both emotion and joy.
The musical journey bridging modern and contemporary music continued with great interest until Saturday the 25th. At Jungmyeongjeon, the national intangible heritage ‘Seodo Sori’ enlivened spirits with traditional Korean tunes, and at Jeongdong Park, Ham Ji-eun’s K-pop dance performance and Random Play Dance brought the excitement to its peak. During the Random Play Dance, children from toddlers to high school students took the stage for a lively dance party, filling the venue with laughter and applause.
Pre-booked programs such as tours of the British and Canadian embassies and ‘Let’s All Take a Jeongdong Tour’ with cultural interpreters showed fierce competition with about a 10:1 ratio, reflecting the festival’s popularity.
The lighting throughout the festival grounds in Jung-gu also ‘lit up’ the romance of spring nights. The festival’s symbol, the Cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lantern), bathed the stone wall path in a rosy glow, and visitors taking photos to capture memories were easily seen around the Jeongdong Night Walk title photo zone at the entrance and the ‘flower lights’ blooming profusely in Jeongdong Park. The photo zone in front of the Canadian Embassy, themed after the Ottawa Tulip Festival, also had a long queue.
Kim Gil-seong, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, “The message Jeongdong Night Walk gives us is ‘Do not forget the pain of modern history, but take pride in our dazzling development,’” adding, “Since K-culture has captivated the world, interest in K-history is also rising, and the potential of Jeongdong Night Walk is limitless.” He also stated, “We will spare no effort in research and support to help Jeongdong Night Walk grow into a festival for the world.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
