Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
'Seoul E-Prix will show futuristic aspects of Seoul'
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, left, and Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E, pose in front of a GEN2 racing car during a press conference at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E, said Tuesday that the organizing committee of the electric vehicle (EV) racing competition chose Seoul as its next competition venue in August because the capital city fits well with the future-oriented image of the event.
“We are launching Seoul E-Prix this summer. We race in some of the most recognized cities in the world. We are really excited to come to Korea's capital Seoul,” Reigle told reporters during a press conference at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.
“We are coming to Seoul because Seoul really represents the future. It's a very connected city and it's a global city. Our crews are very excited because this is a global city.”
Organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), this is the first time that the EV racing competition is taking place in Korea.
The Seoul E-Prix will be a stage for global carmakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Porsche, to show off their EV technologies. For the two-day event, which will be held on Aug. 13 and 14, 22 drivers ― two drivers per team ― on 11 teams will race around Jamsil Sports Complex in southeastern Seoul.
The Seoul competition is exciting racing fans because this will be the final competition to confirm the winner of the 2021/2022 season.
To make the race in Seoul more successful, the city will host a festival called Seoul Festa throughout the city from Aug. 10 to 14.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon voiced high hopes for the festival, which he said will be a great chance to appeal to foreign visitors who have been unable to travel to Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the past two years.
“Through racing in Seoul and stages that can show the essence of K-culture, the Seoul Festa will be a big event that shows the charm of Seoul,” Oh said.
“Due to the pandemic, Seoul's tourism business had to experience a dark period. During the pandemic, we refurbished tourist attractions and prepared to welcome tourists for the Seoul Festa. We are ready to present new values of Seoul.”
The opening performance of the festival will be held at Seoul Sports Complex for 120 minutes from 7:50 p.m. on Aug. 10. The performance will feature K-pop stars such as Rain, NCT Dream and Le Sserafim.
In addition, the World DJ Festival will be held at Seoul Sports Complex Auxiliary Stadium from Aug. 11 to 13, with prominent domestic and foreign electronic dance music artists participating. Various kinds of exhibitions and large-scale shopping events are also being held throughout Seoul.