By Kim Hayeon
Photos= Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE)
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Oct. 12 said it will jointly host from Oct. 14-16 the 2022 Asia Song Festival X Culture Bridge Festa with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District.
Under the slogan "Open Your Asia," the gala on Oct. 14 from 7 p.m. will be livestreamed around the world via YouTube.
With acts from seven Asian countries including Korea to particpate, the event will see performances by K-pop groups like Oh My Girl, SF9 and Gray and foreign counterparts such as Turan from Kazakhstan, I Am Shum from Japan and 4th Impact from the Philippines.
An annual event since 2004, the festival will be held along with "Culture Bridge Festa," which marks its second edition this year as a cultural exchange and interactive event targeting international audiences. The latter event is also scheduled for Oct. 14-16.
The festival will also see in Korea the representative streets of Hoi An from Vietnam and Almaty from Kazakhstan.
Vietnam Zone will present the traditional atmosphere of Hoi An through sculptures made of non la (traditional palm-leaf conical hat), traditional houses and lantern lighting. Also scheduled are cultural experiences such as trying on the traditional Vietnamese costume ao dai, making non la and tasting traditional dishes along with street and stage performances by Vietnamese Contemporary Arts Company.
Kazakhstan Zone, presented as a replica of a mosque, will feature a photo area featuring nomadic life and a screening center to see Kazak nature and movies. In addition to traditional dance performances by a Kazakh troupe, other entertainment activities will include a Goryeoin (ethnic Koreans in Central Asia) exhibition hall and a virtual reality experience highlighting tourist attractions in Kazakhstan.
KOFICE President Jung Kilhwa said, "We hope that this festival featuring Asian music and culture in one place is an opportunity to satisfy demand for cultural experiences abroad a bit."
Admission to the event is free. For more information and methods of participation, click the official websites of both events: www.asiasongfestival.kr and www.culturebridgefesta.kr.
