Performances spanning classical, jazz, K-POP, and traditional Korean music
Jun Sungsoo, District Mayor: "I hope everyone will feel happiness and inspiration"
The Seoripul Music Festival, the signature autumn event of Seocho District in Seoul, will be held from September 27 to 28 along a 900-meter stretch of Banpo-daero, a ten-lane road between Seocho Station and Seocho 3-dong Intersection.
Taking place on a car-free avenue dedicated to music, the Seoripul Music Festival will feature the theme "Seocho is the Music!" and bring together world-renowned artists, local performers, and residents on stages spanning classical, jazz, K-POP, and traditional Korean music.
The main program will run continuously for 48 hours, featuring two main stages, various street performances, interactive booths, and an arts market. During the festival week, from September 22 to 26, there will be pre-events such as "Touch the Piano" and "A Little Musician's Walk."
The festival will kick off at 1 p.m. on the first day, September 27, with an opening parade by the Army 52nd Division Military Band, the Korea Junior Big Band, and the Crown Marching Band. Banpo-daero will then transform into a massive 2,600-square-meter canvas for the festival’s most popular program, "The World’s Largest Sketchbook," where students and visitors will turn the city into a playground of imagination by drawing with over 100,000 colorful pieces of chalk.
At 3 p.m., the "Seoripul Choir Festival" will take place. Seven teams, including the Seoripul Male Choir, Eunnarae Choir, BTN Buddhist TV Choir, and Banpo Tutti Kids Choir, with over 230 participants, will create harmony across generations, religions, and genders.
From 6 p.m., the "Night of Classics" will unfold. The Seocho Symphony Orchestra, led by Maestro Bae Jonghun, will open the evening, followed by performances from a gayageum ensemble and Charles Quini, an accordionist from Paris’s 15th arrondissement, along with other domestic and international musicians. The highlight of the night will be a solo performance by prima donna Sumi Jo and a duet stage, "Dream of U," with violinist Danny Koo. The evening will then transition into a mellow jazz atmosphere. "Seoripul Jazz Night" will feature jazz vocalist Nah Youn Sun and French pianist Bojan Z.
At 7 a.m. on September 28, "Seoripul Good Morning Yoga" will take place in the middle of Banpo-daero, surrounded by skyscrapers. Following a refreshing morning performance, the Eonnam Traditional Arts Troupe’s wind band parade at 11:30 a.m. will add to the autumn ambiance. Afterwards, local artists based in Seocho will take the stage for "Seoripul Local Live," moving the audience with their performances.
At 2 p.m., "Seoripul Kids Classic - Flying Symphony" will combine orchestral music and 3D animation, offering a new take on Saint-Saens’s "Carnival of the Animals" and Tchaikovsky’s "The Nutcracker."
The festival finale will be a night of K-POP and fireworks. At 7 p.m., a passionate K-POP concert featuring Epik High, MeloMance, and Stella Jang will light up the night sky over Banpo-daero. The festival will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.
Throughout the festival, there will be a "Music Forest Library" organized by Banpo Library, a camping-themed reading and relaxation area, AI and smart technology experience booths, and the "Seoripul Art Salon" arts market. Visitors of all ages can enjoy live classical, jazz, and traditional Korean music performances, digital drawing, and hands-on activities such as making handcrafted keyrings and rings.
To promote eco-friendly culture, a "Traveling Tumbler Coffee Truck" will operate, offering free drinks to those who bring their own tumblers. There will also be activities like making keyrings from bottle caps and the installation of recycling and food waste bins, reflecting the festival’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Safety and convenience measures have been significantly enhanced. In cooperation with the police and fire departments, 2,000 safety personnel will be deployed on-site, with a medical support team and three ambulances on standby at all times. About 800 guides will distribute child safety wristbands to young visitors, while an AI human guide will provide real-time information on performances, experiences, and facilities via QR codes, as well as updates on crowd density and missing children.
From midnight on September 27 (Saturday) until 4 a.m. on September 29 (Monday), the 900-meter section of Banpo-daero (Seocho Station to Seocho 3-dong Intersection) will be completely closed to traffic, with 520 model drivers supporting traffic management.
The festival will also include participation from international sister cities such as Paris, France and Prague 6, Czech Republic. In addition, 175 members of the youth volunteer group "Seoripul Runners" will provide event support and interpretation services.
Seocho District Mayor Jun Sungsoo stated, "Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Seoripul Music Festival truly lives up to its name ‘All That Music,’ showcasing everything from classical and jazz to K-POP and traditional Korean music. I hope many residents will visit and fully enjoy the happiness and inspiration that music brings."
Since its debut in 2015, the Seoripul Festival has attracted a cumulative total of 1.08 million visitors, establishing itself as Seocho’s representative autumn festival. This year, its name has been changed to the "Seoripul Music Festival."
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