November 1?23
Held at 40 Locations in 28 Regions Nationwide
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Council will host the 2nd Humanities and Culture Festival, titled "Kindred Beings," from November 1 to 23, across more than 40 locations including 28 regions nationwide and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.
This festival is organized as a collaborative effort among regional cultural foundations, public-interest foundations, and local bookstores, providing citizens with opportunities to experience the humanities in daily life and to promote the values of community solidarity and empathy.
A Festival Journey with Authors like Chun Seonran and Local Bookstores
During the relay book talks, which will be held at 16 local bookstores selected for the "Humanities on the Road" and "Wisdom School" projects, authors, poets, journalists, and editors specializing in the humanities and arts will engage in direct conversations with citizens.
Participating bookstores include Indigo Bookstore in Busan, Lazy Afternoon in Seoul, Afternoon Notebook in South Gyeongsang Province, and Chaekbang Subuk in North Gyeongsang Province. At Lazy Afternoon in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, novelist Chun Seonran will meet readers under the theme "Can the Imagination of Writers Save Humanity?"
Additionally, on November 9, the play reading event "Great! One-Act Play Reading" featuring actor Park Jungmin will be held at the House of Artists in Daehak-ro, Seoul, in collaboration with the play-specialized bookstore Inscript.
Dialogue and Reflection: Humanities Across Generations
In Gangneung, Gwangju, and Uiryeong, programs such as "Life Table Together" and "Discovery of Dialogue" will provide opportunities for various participants to understand others through conversation and to restore relationships and empathy in everyday life. In Andong, Suwon, and Pyeongtaek at Jigwanseoga, meditation, music, and lecture programs on self-reflection and happiness will be offered.
At 15 cultural spaces for middle-aged and young adults in Incheon, Daejeon, Pohang, Jeju, and other regions, renowned figures such as critic Ko Misook, Dr. Pyo Changwon, and economist Kim Hanjin (from Sampro TV) will share their wisdom for life through humanities lectures.
Solidarity Through the Humanities: Walking Together on a Kind Path
Public-interest foundations including the Daewoo Foundation, Amorepacific Foundation, Youth Foundation, and Korea Foundation for Spiritual Culture will also participate, together promoting the spread of humanities values.
The Daewoo Foundation will invite philosopher Park Chankook to deliver a lecture titled "Thinking About Life with Schopenhauer and Nietzsche," while the Amorepacific Foundation will support emotional recovery for young people through the "Youth Mind Therapy" program, which uses scent and drawing as mediums.
Finale at Seoul DDP: A Festival for a Kindred Community
The warmth of the humanities cultivated across the country will converge at Seoul DDP, forming a major collective movement. During the two-day finale event from November 22 to 23 in Seoul, a variety of programs will be held, including talk concerts, exhibitions, performances, and workshops related to humanities projects such as "Humanities on the Road," "Youth Humanities Class," and "Stepping Stone Humanities," culminating in a festival that brings together kindred beings.
Jung Byungguk, Chair of ARKO, stated, "The humanities are both a language for understanding others and a force that connects society," adding, "Through this festival, I hope that citizens will regain a kind perspective toward one another and that this warmth will spread throughout society."
For more detailed information about the festival and how to participate in its programs, please visit the official Humanities and Culture Festival website.
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