Latin American Cultural Festival to be held in Seoul

An extravaganza of Latin culture will entertain local and international visitors during the 2012 Latin American Cultural Festival in Seoul from May 26 to June 3, organizers said Friday.

The festival, jointly organized by the foreign ministry and the Korea Foundation, is part of the ministry's two-way cultural exchange projects designed to give Koreans the chance to enhance understanding of various foreign cultures.

Highlights of the festival will be a series of concerts to be performed by top teams from Latin American countries at Hanbit Square near the Cheonggye Stream and Theater Yong of the National Museum of Korea.

Teams from Brazil, Jamaica, Colombia and Mexico will perform at Hanbit Square as part of the Pre&Free Lounge program from May 26 to May 29.

Seven Latin American countries of Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, and Argentina will put on musical performances at Theater Yong from May 31 to June 3.

Performers include Brazil's leading percussionist Valtino Anastacio and Latin band Escola Alegria, Escola de Samba Vai Vai, the top samba team in Sal Paolo, Mariachi Gallos de Mexico, C-Sharp of Jamaica and Crebe of Colombia.

The festival will also host exhibitions including "Photography and Identity: A view from Latin America and the Caribbean" at the Korea Foundation gallery (May 15-June 9) and "Meet the Latin America" at Theater Yong (May 31-June 3). Attendees will also be able to experience Latin American food and seminars introducing Latin culture.

Admission to all the programs is free, but requires a reservation. For more information, visit www.latinfestival.kr or call 070-8230-1201. (Yonhap)