Mongolian Ambassador Visits Changwon
Discusses Diverse Cooperation Plans Including Special Performances and Cultural Events
Changwon Special City announced on May 15 that the Ambassador of Mongolia to Korea, Sukhee Sukhbold, and his delegation visited Changwon to ensure the successful hosting of the 2025 MAMF (Multicultural Awareness & Music Festival), where Mongolia will be the guest of honor.
This visit was arranged to review the festival preparations with the Mongolian side, which is participating as the guest of honor, and to discuss the overall direction of cooperation for the event.
Marking its 20th anniversary this year, MAMF will be held under the theme "20 Years Together: Forgetting Differences, Connecting the Future" from October 24 to 26 for three days at Yongji Culture Park, Seongsan Art Hall, and throughout Jungang-daero.
Changwon City considers this year a turning point for MAMF to further elevate its status and quality. To pursue various changes, the city will significantly expand the guest of honor content.
The Mongolian wrestling tournament, a highlight of the Naadam Festival?one of the world's top 10 festivals?will be newly introduced. One hundred Mongolian athletes (including current competitors) invited from both Korea and abroad will participate, and friendly matches between Korean and Mongolian athletes will also take place. Near the arena, a traditional ger and an exhibition of Mongolian products will be set up to vividly showcase Mongolian culture throughout the festival space.
For the signature Cultural Diversity Parade, professional teams will be invited, and participants' costumes and props will be enhanced to increase visual appeal. The "Migrants' Arirang," known as a "festival within a festival," and the World Music Festival, which heightens the excitement, will invite more popular and well-known singers to boost the stage's popularity. Through these efforts, the city aims to increase the number of migrant spectators by 30 to 50 percent compared to the previous year.
Booths where visitors can experience traditional games from around the world will be set up along Jungang-daero, adding vibrancy and excitement to the festival. In addition, participatory programs commemorating the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions will be held. These programs are being planned in collaboration with local universities to encourage active participation from local youth.
The city plans to further develop MAMF into Changwon's signature festival, created together by locals and foreigners alike, based on the operational know-how and strong expatriate networks built over the past 20 years.
Jang Geumyong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, "This year, guest of honor Mongolia is an excellent partner that can best embody the values of coexistence and inclusion that MAMF pursues," adding, "As MAMF marks its 20th anniversary, we will continue to support its growth into a festival that represents not only the region but also the nation."
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