2008 Hi Seoul Festival
The annual event that is Hi Seoul Festival has undergone some major changes this year. The festival will be held four times a year to represent the four distinct seasons of Korea. Fun-filled activities and events are planned from May 3 to May 10. The theme of the Hi Seoul Festival for this spring is "Palace," with an infusion of technological magic that'll enhance the traditional festivities with modern technology. The weather and time of year being what it is, plenty of ceremonies replicating the glorious days of the Joseon era, parades as well as events showcasing historical and cultural aspects of Seoul will be at the forefront this May. For more information, call (02) 774-4234.

Lotus Lantern Festival
The Lotus Lantern Festival, held to mark Buddha's birthda and one of Seoul's most popular festivals, will take place on May 2---12 in the area around Dongdaemun, Jongno and Jogyesa Temple. Each year, thousands of Koreans and foreigners gather around Seoul's Jongno area to watch a nighttime parade of huge, beautifully constructed lanterns. The parade begins at Dongdaemun Stadium and ends at Jogyesa Temple and there are countless programs prepared --- lantern-making, Zen lessons, traditional Korean music and dance, street festivals and much, much more. If you've got an interest in Korean Buddhist culture, this is the one festival you won't want to miss. For more information, call (02) 2011-1747.

Seoul Friendship Fair 2008
Under the theme of "Meet the world at Seoul," Seoul Friendship Fair 2008 will be held on May 10 at Seoul Plaza and Mugyodong-gil area from 10am to 7pm. Seoul Friendship Fair has been part of the Hi Seoul Festival since 2003. Seoul Friendship Fair 2008, sponsored by Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by Artsplay, consists of three thematic zones: Gong-gam Zone (Sympathy), Na-num Zone (Sharing), Man-nam Zone (Meeting).

In Gong-gam Zone (Sympathy), the festival will kick off with a gilnori parade taking place from Korea's three palaces to Seoul Plaza. A variety of performances by Korean and invited performing groups from 11 international cities will be showcased at Seoul Plaza from 2:30 to 7pm, bringing together performers and audiences. In the opening ceremony, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will grant honour citizenship to foreigners and deliver a speech for the ceremony. Na-num Zone (Sharing) will feature exhibitions on food and traditional folk arts from 50 countries in which visitors will enjoy various cultures and unique international cuisines, including Korean food. In Man-nam Zone (Meeting), visitors can participate in a diverse array of hands-on events such as an international children's painting exhibition, world mask exhibition, sharing love letters among multicultural families, face painting and a global street theatre festival. Seoul Friendship Fair 2008 will offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy food and performances from around the world and explore diverse international cultures. For more information, call (02) 02-594-4322.

Festival of Chamber Music

Benchmarking the prestigious Salzburg Festival of Austria, the annual Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, led by renowned violinist Kang Dong-suk, is to be held from May 2 to 13.

During the festival, more than thirty internationally famous musicians or groups including Pinchas Zukerman, the Prazak Quartet and clarinet ensemble Les Bons Becs will participate in this year's festival, showcasing their talents around Seoul at various venues such as the Chamber Hall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the Seoul Arts Center.

This year's theme for the Seoul Spring Festival is “Life Story” and to live up to the theme, many performances will revolve around the themes of youth, love and passion, love and death as well as friendship.The organizers have also designed the event to bring music to people instead of waiting for people to come to concert halls. For one, an outdoor concert is planned at 6 p.m. on May 5 at an ancient palace, Deoksugung Palace in central Seoul. Cellists Yang Sung-won, Park Sang-min, Andres Diaz and pianists Siqing Lu and Xu Zhong, among others, will perform works by Beethoven, Czerny, Sarasate and others.

Whether it's musicians playing classic music or clarinets playing the Beatles, the festival is sure to please a diverse audience this May in the beautiful springtime in Seoul. Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 40,000 won.

April 30, 2008