Festival to raise money for Sewol families
A festival to celebrate General Yi Sun-shin will be held next month, in the coastal region where the Sewol ferry sank and where the record-breaking movie “Roaring Currents” was filmed.
The “General Lee Victory Festival” will take place on Jindo Island from October 11 to 12, with much of the money going to the families of people who died in the Sewol disaster.
"After the Sewol disaster, Jindo’s economy declined _ we're basically trying to help everyone get the region back on track," said festival organizer Michael Suh.
The festival will start with a traditional song, “Arirang,” inviting participants to wear uniforms and take part in dances.
It will then feature international performers, including two foreign bands, Colin Phil's and The Primary, and various K-pop artists.
Festivities including hip-hop DJs are scheduled to continue throughout the night. There will also be fireworks and a candlelight ceremony in memory of the Sewol victims.
The organizing committee expects up to 300 foreign visitors to the event. Tickets cost 90,000 won ($86), with up to 15,000 won of each ticket to be donated to the Sewol families.
Local residents will make and serve the fermented alcohol makgeolli, and various traditional dishes.
The names of festival participants will be engraved on a bench to be placed near Paengmok Harbor in Jindo, according to Suh.
Special event and planning company Good Times ROK is hosting the event. South Jeolla Province and Jindo county are sponsors.