KOREAN NET

Visitors look around the venue of last year's Seoul Friendship Festival, which ran from June 17-18, 2023, at Gwanghwamun Square in the capital's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Israa Mohamed

Gwanghwamun Square, located at the center of Seoul, will be transformed into a global village and festival venue that celebrates the cultures of 70 countries.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government from May 24-26 will host this year's Seoul Friendship Festival at the square, Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon-ro Road, bringing people from around the world to one place.

Under the theme "Seoul and the World Together through Culture," the event will see the participation of embassies and cultural centers from 70 countries. The opening ceremony at the square is set for May 24 at 5 p.m.

The plethora of events will include a parade of traditional costumes from around the world, cultural performances by nine troupes from abroad, embassy pavilions, an exhibition to promote tourism in world cities and another featuring cube photos, screening of global city films, and sections offering world food and desserts and Korean cuisine.

The first day on May 24 will see Gwanghwamun Square packed with spaces dedicated to world culture experiences like embassy pavilions from 47 countries, world city tourism exhibition, and spaces for performances and Korean content. The next day, Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon-ro area will see the ever-popular international food and dessert sections alongside a K-food zone and performance stage.

The opening ceremony will have an congratulatory parade led by a chwitadae (traditional military band) walking with performers from nine cities and visitors from the square to a section of Sejong-daero Road.

Afterwards, Laure Mafo, a Cameroonian-born French vocalist specializing in pansori (traditional lyrical opera), will perform on a stage at the square.

More information on the schedule, programs and participating countries is available on the festival's official Instagram account (www.instagram.com/seoulfriendshipfestival2024).

This is the official poster for this year's Seoul Friendship Festival. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

ess8@korea.kr