Seoul’s annual street art festival to kick off next week

Seoul City’s annual street art festival will kick off next week featuring a host of international performances and civic-participant programs, officials said Monday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the Hi Seoul Festival will offer over 50 global and local street performances, mobilizing stages and circuses from Oct. 1-4 in central Seoul. Under the theme “Let’s play on the street,” the event will include 10 international performances from six countries, including the U.K., France and Spain.

The U.K.’s popular midair performance “As the World Tipped” played by Wired Aerial Theatre will open the festival on the first day. This is the first time that the performance is to be played in the Asian region, officials said.

The closing performance, “Yeongja,” will display the 70-year-long Korean modern history with an 8-meter-tall doll “Yeongja” and local art groups. The large doll will play a symbolic role in Korean history, they added.

About 8,000 citizens have participated in organizing the four-day event, the most in its history. Many will take part in street performances, including the closing ceremony.

Launched in 2003, the annual program transformed into a street art festival in 2013.

Celebrating the third year of transitioning into street festivities, the city will hold an international street art conference with global experts to discuss the future of the industry, the city said.

The programs and performances will be held at around Seoul City Hall, Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul Station. All are open to the public for free, the city said.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)