By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Citizens can enjoy a variety of free cultural events supported by Seoul Metropolitan Government throughout this year.
Seoul Plaza, which entertained people as an ice rink during the winter, will be turned into an outdoor stage. At 7:30 p.m. from May 16 to Oct. 10, various performances will be held on a stage in front of City Hall. Seoul has extended the show time to 100 minutes, compared to one hour last year. The shows will include concerts, gala performances, movies and even fashion shows. Citizens may also participate in them.
Many cultural events will be staged, not only in Seoul Plaza but also on other small stages around the city. Every Saturday night from May to October, people can listen to concerts and jazz performances on the Han River banks near Banpo.
"We prepared these free cultural events for citizens to enjoy with their family or lovers", Ohm Yeon-suk of Seoul City said.
Dongdaemun Market will hold diverse performances every Saturday afternoon and street artists will present dance and other performing arts on weekdays.
Past successful events will be upgraded. One of the "Five Grand Palaces" built in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Gyeonghui Palace, will be rededicated as a stage. In May, an epic musical based on the hit TV drama "Jewel in the Palace", ("
Dae Jang Geum") will be staged at Gyeonghui Palace as a part of the Hi Seoul Festival in the spring.
The metropolitan government plans to perform an original piece in September, expressing Korean beauty through traditional song and dance.
The palace will also be the venue for the Seoul Book Festival, featuring a range of book-related events such as meeting authors and book making from Oct. 9 to 11, and near Seoul Museum of History, an exhibition on the history of books will be held.
On Aug. 22, people can enjoy popular performances, museums, galleries and clubbing for only 10,000 won for "Seoul Open Night". Launched last year, the open night will allow pass holders to visit some 200 spots during the night. The city will develop the program as Seoul's representative tourism night.
