Minister Choi Hwiyoung: "Hoping the Seogwipo Month of Culture Event Becomes a Milestone for a Cultural and Tourism Powerhouse"

'2025 Month of Culture' Commemorative Ceremony Held in Seogwipo
"Jeju, Incredibly Beautiful Island, Will Be Promoted Widely"

Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated that the Ministry would do its utmost to promote the charms of Jeju Island at the '2025 Month of Culture' commemorative ceremony held on the special stage at Cheonjiyeon Waterfall in Seogwipo, Jeju, on the 18th.

Minister Choi remarked, "Jeju Island is an incredibly beautiful island," adding, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will wholeheartedly participate in every effort to make the unique allure of Seogwipo, a true gem within Jeju, shine even brighter, and will always stand together with you."

The 2025 Month of Culture commemorative event was held in Seogwipo, Jeju. The Month of Culture was established in 1972 under the Framework Act on Culture. This law designates October as the Month of Culture and the third Saturday of October as Culture Day. The commemorative event began in 1990 and, since 2003, has been held in rotation across the country each year to broaden the foundation of local arts and introduce the distinctive cultures of each region.

Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivers a congratulatory speech at the '2025 Month of Culture' commemorative ceremony held on the special stage at Cheonjiyeon Waterfall in Seogwipo City, Jeju, on the 18th.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Minister Choi emphasized, "Every October is the Month of Culture," and described the annual commemorative event as "a meaningful occasion to widely promote and share the culture that local residents have long preserved and nurtured." He continued, "Jeju ranks third after Seoul and Busan in attracting foreign tourists. Through this festival, I hope the cultural appeal of Seogwipo will be widely recognized, and that it will long be remembered as a 'city alive with culture' and 'a city people want to revisit.'"

Minister Choi also noted his deep personal connection to Jeju and introduced himself in the local dialect, drawing enthusiastic applause from Jeju residents. When he said, "Jeoneun ye ippeun Jeju saeksi-ege janggaon yukji sawiuda (I am a mainland son-in-law who married a beautiful Jeju woman)," the audience responded with loud cheers and applause.

The commemorative ceremony began with the Chilshipni Street Parade, featuring over 800 residents from 17 towns and districts of Seogwipo, followed by the special performance "Seolmundae Halmang Bonpuri," a reinterpretation of the Jeju myth, and a concert by the mixed band Jaurim. During the ceremony, Minister Choi presented awards to local governments that promoted distinctive policies, including local events, festivals, and projects selected as outstanding "Local 100." The Mundang Environmental Agriculture Village in Hongseong County, Chungnam; the "Journey to Modern Times Alley Tour" in Jung-gu, Daegu; and the "Chungjang Festival & Busking World Cup" in Dong-gu, Gwangju, were recognized as outstanding "Local 100" initiatives and received certificates and bouquets from Minister Choi.

The Local 100 project selects and promotes unique local cultural assets, such as cultural spaces and content, to raise nationwide awareness. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the first Local 100 (2024-2025) in 2023 and plans to announce the second round by the end of this year. An online national vote to select the second Local 100 is currently underway and will continue until the end of this month.

Scene from the special performance "Seolmundae Halmang Bonpuri" at the '2025 Culture Month' commemorative ceremony held on the 18th at the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall special stage in Seogwipo City, Jeju.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (third from the left), waves to the performers at the '2025 Month of Culture' commemorative ceremony held on the special stage at Cheonjiyeon Waterfall in Seogwipo City, Jeju, on the 18th.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Throughout October, the Month of Culture, a wide variety of cultural events will take place nationwide. These include the Daegu International Opera Festival (September 26-November 8), the 2025 Seoul Autumn Festa (October 4-November 12), the Sejong Hangeul Festival (October 9-11), the 2025 Gyeongju Silla Culture Festival (October 10-12), the 2025 Yanggu Humanities Festival (October 18), the Gwangju International Art Fair (October 23-26), and the Bucheon International Animation Festival (October 25-29), all of which will enrich the Month of Culture in October.

Minister Choi stressed, "With 'K-Culture' enjoying global popularity, the unique cultures of each region are the key to attracting both our citizens and people from around the world, revitalizing local communities. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will do its best to spread distinctive cultural and tourism content so that every corner of the country can shine with its own cultural appeal, while also ensuring that everyone can enjoy arts and culture wherever they are."