Must-sees during Hi Seoul Festival

Diverse programs offered for expats

By Chung Hyun-chae

The annual “Hi Seoul Festival” will take place at various locations in Seoul, including Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul Citizens’ Hall, from Oct. 1-5.

Under the slogan “Let’s Play on the Street,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture are jointly organizing cultural events for citizens and expats.

During the five-day festival, there will be a number of performances and exhibitions in which 54 companies from seven countries will participate.

This year’s festival will be much larger than in the past. A total of 43 local teams and nine foreign teams will stage 268 performances, as compared with 162 performances last year.

“We created more programs that can show the history of Seoul and demonstrate the essence of Korean pop culture,” art director, Kim Jong-suk, said.

Below are some of the must-see performances we have chosen.

1. Opening performance: “The Return of the Butterfly”

Time and date: 8:20 p.m. on Oct. 1

Place: Seoul Plaza and Seoul Citizens’ Hall

The Street Arts Association and local artists will reinterpret the Korean folk tale “Simcheong,” about a daughter who saves her blind father by throwing herself into the sea. The performance will deliver a hopeful message by showing how the main character overcomes grief and despair. This will be the first opening performance to be organized and created only by local artists.

2. Audio tour performance: “Seochon Odyssey”

Time and date: Three times a day (1, 3 and 5 p.m.) Oct. 2-5

Place: Seochon Village

An award-winning British theater group, “Inspector Sands,” will tell stories about the history of Seochon Village and some of its famous flower shops and bakeries.

3. Musical theater: “Underground”

Time and date: 9 p.m., Oct. 2-5

“Motherboard Productions,” an Australian production house, will perform in a bar in Seoul. The audience can have a drink while learning about culture, language and gender and enjoying love stories set to music. After the performance, the stage will become part of the bar.

4. Street performance: “Station”

Time and date: 9 p.m. on Oct. 4, and 5 p.m. on Oct. 5

Place: Sejong Center

The domestic street performing team “Creative Group Noni” will give a street performance showing the visual aesthetics of body movement in everyday space.

5. Closing: “Kkeut.Jang.Dae.Ro”

Time and date: 3 to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 5

Place: Sejongdaero

Artists and citizens will enjoy a variety of performances and games throughout the day. The events will include public parades, B-boy dancing, and mime performances on buses.