Scaled-down Hi Seoul Festival to kickstart May 5
Published on | Source
By Kim Rahn
The annual Hi Seoul Festival will come back this year, with the theme of nonverbal performance.
Despite drastic budget cuts by the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expressed hopes that the festival will attract as many locals and foreigners as possible next month.
Scores of events and concerts will be presented at the Han River Park in Yeouido, Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Square and along the Cheonggyecheon stream between May 5 and 10, according to Seoul City.
The city had to scale down this year's festival following the related budget being halved by the council to 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million).
Not only Korean performers but also 41 groups of foreigners from 11 countries will participate in the festival. Some 300 shows will be available for free at the special stages of the venues, including "Nanta" and "Sachoom".
In the opening on May 5, street shows and parades will be presented at Seoul Square. Australian art group Well will establish a nine-meter-high "Great Book" at the square, while Spanish theatrical group La Fura dels Baus will offer an aerialist act titled "Rainbow Drops" at the Han River Park, with 50 people forming a "human web" in the air.
Citizens will be able to take part in many of the programs presented in the downtown area.
City officials aim to make the festival as enjoyable as possible despite the budget cut.
"We intended to make the festival more diverse and creative in terms of content", a city official said.
The festival, first held in 2003, is part of Seoul's efforts to be recognized as a global city not only economically but also culturally. Last year's festival drew some 1.9 million people.
The annual Hi Seoul Festival will come back this year, with the theme of nonverbal performance.
Despite drastic budget cuts by the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expressed hopes that the festival will attract as many locals and foreigners as possible next month.
Scores of events and concerts will be presented at the Han River Park in Yeouido, Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Square and along the Cheonggyecheon stream between May 5 and 10, according to Seoul City.
The city had to scale down this year's festival following the related budget being halved by the council to 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million).
Not only Korean performers but also 41 groups of foreigners from 11 countries will participate in the festival. Some 300 shows will be available for free at the special stages of the venues, including "Nanta" and "Sachoom".
In the opening on May 5, street shows and parades will be presented at Seoul Square. Australian art group Well will establish a nine-meter-high "Great Book" at the square, while Spanish theatrical group La Fura dels Baus will offer an aerialist act titled "Rainbow Drops" at the Han River Park, with 50 people forming a "human web" in the air.
Citizens will be able to take part in many of the programs presented in the downtown area.
City officials aim to make the festival as enjoyable as possible despite the budget cut.
"We intended to make the festival more diverse and creative in terms of content", a city official said.
The festival, first held in 2003, is part of Seoul's efforts to be recognized as a global city not only economically but also culturally. Last year's festival drew some 1.9 million people.
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