With less than 30 days left before the G20 Seoul Summit, Korea is bustling with preparations to greet overseas visitors.
A variety of events will be held to celebrate the G20 as event for everyone, beyond just world leaders and businesspeople.
In central Seoul, a concert will be held at Sejong Cultural Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun on November 7. As many as 3,000 people, including ambassadors and other officials, are expected to attend the concert, which is being supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The National Library of Korea will also hold a series of programs from November 8-12, including a lecture on world literature, an art exhibition, and film screening to mark the upcoming G20 summit.
One of the most notable events is the 2010 Asia Song Festival. Now in its seventh year, the festival will feature 14 top singers and groups from Korea and overseas to celebrate the opening of the G20. The concert will be held on October 23 at the main Olympic Stadium in Jamsil and be aired in more than 30 countries, including Japan and China. Boa, Rain, 2AM, KARA, and other local groups will join an international collection of stars to delight fans.
| Top Asian singers perform at the Asia Song Festival which was held in Seoul, September of 2009. (Photo: Yonhap News) |
During the two-day summit period from Nov. 11-12, traditional performances and exhibitions will be held for diplomatic delegations and representatives from international organizations. The National Center for the Korean Traditional Performing Arts will hold a special performance of the Jongmyojereak under the title “Korea, the Beauty of Korea” at Yeakdang in Seocho-gu. The Jongmyojereak is part of a royal ancestral rite named “jongmyojere” from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and is a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage. The National Theater of Korea will also host a traditional Korean music performance called “Cheong” at its main Hea Hall on Nov. 12.
The leaders attending the G20 Seoul Summit will be able to appreciate the beauty of Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) Buddhist paintings at the National Museum of Korea, which will also serve as the official luncheon venue for the G20 Summit on Nov. 11. The museum is holding a special exhibition titled “Masterpieces of Goryeo Buddhist Painting – A Long Lost Look after 700 Years” from Oct. 12 to Nov. 21.
| Visitors enjoy Korean, Japanese, and Chinese paintings in the National Museum of Korea’s special exhibition on Goryeo Buddhist paintings. (Photo: Yonhap News) |
Overseas tourists and representatives from governmental and international organizations will have several opportunities to enjoy Korean culture through a variety of programs, including tour programs run by royal palaces, and two arts festivals at Seoul Art Center: The Korea International Music Festival on Nov. 4-14, and the Seoul Performing Arts Festival from Oct. 2 through Nov. 4.
Meanwhile, the city of Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do will host several events to celebrate the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting, slated to take place on Oct. 22-23.
| A scene from the gugak-themed performance “Miso” (Photo: Yonhap News) |
One of the main events is the Bomunho Festival on Oct. 20-23. A series of concerts, including orchestral, K-pop, the traditional Korean performance “Miso,” and the nonverbal performance “Nanta” will be held at the main outdoor stage at Bomun Lake in the Bomun resort area.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
