Cultural festival enriches LivCom Awards

By Kim Rahn

A cultural festival taking place in Songpa District adds a festive mood to the international awards for livable communities, which have been held in the southeastern Seoul district since Thursday, said district Mayor Park Choon-hee.

Park said Friday the Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival introduces Korea’s traditions to foreign participants of the competition.

Songpa is hosting the International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom Awards), a competition where cities show off their efforts for more environmentally friendly and sustainable communities. The five-day contest continues through Monday.

Coinciding with the awards is the annual cultural festival, which commemorates the early Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.-A.D. 475) when Songpa was the capital. It is held from Friday to Sunday.

“International competitions are usually rigid and meeting-oriented, but the cultural festival will turn the contest into a venue of gala and harmony. The coincidence of the two events will also boost exposure of the festivals, as it will be able to show Korea’s tradition and culture to the large number of visiting foreign delegates,” Park said in an interview.

On Friday, the sacred fire of Baekje was taken by performers in traditional costumes of the era, and transferred to the main festival venue of the Peace Square at the Olympic Park.

Various programs are being offered during the festival, such as performances, food courts and exhibitions. “Previously we used to have a pop concert, but this time we will have traditional Korean music for foreign visitors. The highlight will be a parade on Sunday, where performers will reenact Baekje-era soldiers’ archery and horse riding skills,” Park said.

She said when talking about Baekje, people usually think of the latter era after the kingdom moved its capital to the Chungcheong region. “But Songpa was the capital for about two thirds of Baekje’s history. We also have many remains, such as mud ramparts. We’ll open a Hanseong Baekje museum next April and exhibit the unearthed articles.”

Park said she is doing her utmost to conclude the big international event without any hitches. “LivCom Awards Committee Director and Chief Executive Alan Smith told me that he thought last year’s competition in Chicago was the most magnificent and the largest in terms of the number of participants but now sees the Songpa competition is larger and better prepared. I was glad to hear this,” she said.