Presenting the Charm of Culture and Arts Across Eras Under the Theme of 'The Power of Culture'
Three Days of High-Quality Comprehensive Performing Arts Stages... Traditional and Modern Dance, K-pop, Classical Music, and More
30 Experiences and Food Markets... A Festival Enjoyed by All Ages, Domestic and International
Seo Gang-seok, District Mayor, “Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival Transforms to Match Songpa’s Status... Combining Fun and Artistic Value”
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) will hold the high-quality cultural and arts festival, the "24th Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival" (hereinafter referred to as the festival), from September 27 to September 29 at the Peace Plaza in Olympic Park.
This year’s festival is themed "The Power of Culture Connecting Hearts." It signifies the cultural power that has flowed for 2,000 years from the origin of Hanseong Baekje culture, extending beyond South Korea to the world, connecting people's hearts and uniting them as one.
Seokang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, Declares the Opening of the Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival Last Year
On the 25th at 11:15 a.m., Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, held a press briefing for the 2024 Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival at the Press Center, stating, “The Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival has been continuously transforming to live up to Songpa-gu’s reputation as a leading tourist city in Seoul,” and explained, “We planned the festival to be more modern, artistic, and entertaining so that residents and visitors from home and abroad can all enjoy it together.”
In particular, since 2022, the district has selected themes centered on "The Power of Culture" to showcase the timeless charm of cultural arts through the festival. The 2022 theme, "The Power of Culture Flowing Proudly," evolved in 2023 to "The Power of Culture Crossing Rivers and Seas," presenting differentiated stages in formats such as fashion shows, musicals, K-pop, and game music.
This year, over the three days of the festival, a comprehensive performing arts program will be presented on various stages. On a 55-meter giant LED stage shaped like Songpa’s skyline, fantastic performances ranging from traditional music to contemporary dance, popular songs, fusion music, and a drone show will unfold.
Day One 'Opening Ceremony': A Feast of Light, Contemporary Dance, and Drone Show
The highlight of the festival, the opening ceremony, will take place on the 27th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The dance team known for powerful performances, HOOK, and the Korea National University of Arts dance troupe, K-Arts, will open the festival. Following this, the theme performance will interpret the theme poem through dazzling media visuals and contemporary dance. The congratulatory performances will feature the idol group fromis_9, singer-songwriter Hong Isak, and rock band Boohwal, showcasing the diversity of K-Pop.
The first day will conclude with the festival’s first-ever drone show. Eight hundred drones will fly over Mongchunho Lake in Olympic Park, drawing images such as Songpa-gu’s characters Haha and Hoho, the tourist attraction Lotte World Tower, and highlights of the Paris Olympics, raising anticipation for the festival.
Earlier at 10 a.m., the "Songpa Residents’ Day Ceremony" will be held. This event annually honors residents who have contributed to the development of the local community. This year, the grand prize was awarded to Korea National Sport University for its contribution to promoting Songpa-gu’s status as the host city of the Olympics and a city of sports.
Day Two 'Hanseong Cultural Concert': A Stage Filled with the Fragrance of Tradition and Elegance of Pungnyu
On the second day, the "Hanseong Cultural Concert" will be held, where attendees can enjoy pungnyu (traditional Korean leisure culture) to the melodies of traditional music.
From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., the stage will feature ▲traditional music such as daegeum solo and jeongga ▲traditional dances including seungmu, chun-aengmu, and hakchum ▲and changgeuk (traditional Korean opera). Especially, centered on the gayageum performance by Professor Choi Jin, a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property and professor at Kyowon University, a 20-person gayageum ensemble along with seonbi dance and yeoryeong dance will present the profound beauty of tradition.
Additionally, performances by the LED dance group "Saengdonggam Crew" and the fusion gugak group "AUX" will deliver a joyful blend of tradition and modernity to the audience.
At 11 a.m., the "Hanmaeum Eoulmadang" will showcase the talents and skills of residents. Twenty-three teams selected from each neighborhood community center program will participate in a competition.
Day Three 'Closing Ceremony': A Time United by Classical Music, Orchestra, and Musical!
On the final day, the 29th at 7 p.m., the closing ceremony will conclude the three-day journey.
The program includes ▲a highlight video screening capturing various moments of the festival ▲a performance by the Songpa-gu Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Attendees can enjoy K-pop music reinterpreted in classical style, including BTS’s "Dynamite." Following this, ▲performances by the Songpa-gu Municipal Choir and the Songpa-gu Children’s Choir ▲a musical gala concert featuring musical actors Kai and Ivy singing famous Broadway musical songs will take place. Finally, the male quartet "Fortena" will deliver a moving message of harmony with beautiful voices accompanied by the municipal symphony orchestra.
'Permanent Programs': Unique Experiences and Food Market Adding Fun to the Festival
Throughout the three days of the festival, family-friendly experience programs will be available. Visitors can participate in six activities including ▲Hanseong Baekje treasure hunt ▲earthen fortress building ▲survival games, and 24 other experiences such as ▲decorating four directional guardian spirit cards and ▲making traditional weapons.
To ensure visitor convenience, the district has established a waiting reservation system, installed large shade tents to prepare for late summer heat, and deployed professional security personnel to maintain a comfortable and safe festival environment.
Near the South Gate 4 parking lot of Olympic Park, the "Hanseong Baekje Market" food market will be held. Seventeen neighborhood residents and organizations will participate, preparing a variety of K-food to satisfy visitors’ senses.
About 40 congratulatory delegations from home and abroad will attend this festival. Visitors from nine cities, including Bunkyo-ku in Tokyo, Japan, a sister city of the district, and domestic sister cities such as Wonju in Gangwon Province and Suncheon in Jeollanam-do, will join in the festivities.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “The Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival has established itself as a representative festival in South Korea, attracting 300,000 visitors annually,” and added, “Through the high-quality cultural and artistic stages unfolding in Songpa-gu this coming weekend, we will offer many people an inspiring experience created by the ‘power of culture.’”
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