Spring K-Royal Culture Festival unveils diverse programs celebrating Korean heritage

Visitors enter Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, April 30, 2023, to enjoy the 2023 Spring K-Royal Culture Festival. This year’s festival will be held from April 26 to May 4. Yonhap

This April, a splendid ceremony themed around flowers will grace the Spring K-Royal Culture Festival at Korea's royal palaces, offering visitors a glimpse into the nation's largest cultural heritage festival.

The Korea Heritage Agency and the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said Wednesday that a diverse array of programs will welcome visitors during the nine-day cultural heritage festival from April 26 to May 4.

The K-Royal Culture Festival takes place at Seoul's five palaces — Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Deoksu Palace, Changgyeong Palace and Gyeonghui Palace — and Jongmyo Shrine. Now in its 11th year, the festival is held twice annually, in spring and autumn.

From left are Song Jae-sung, Koh Sun-woong and Lee Jeong-eun who will direct festival programs held at Seoul’s royal palaces during the Spring K-Royal Culture Festival from April 26 to May 4. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Agency

The agencies appointed three experts to present unique programs this year.

The opening ceremony, which will be held at Gyeongbok Palace on April 25, the day before the festival begins, will feature a spectacular and beautiful stage directed by Koh Sung-woong, centering on the idea of flowers.

Koh has served as the general director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics and currently holds the position of chief director at the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre.

"Through the theme 'flowers,' symbolizing humanity, the festival will depict the overcoming of adversity and the achievement of a peaceful era, expressed through diverse artistic performances, delivering a message of hope to the nation,” the Korea Heritage Agency said.

Additionally, the festival's signature program, "Time Travel, King Sejong," will be directed by Song Jae-sung. This program will take place throughout Gyeongbok Palace from April 26 to 30, allowing visitors to experience the daily life of the palace during the reign of King Sejong (1397-1450) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

A traditional crafts exhibition will also be held at Changgyeong Palace from April 26 to May 4. This exhibition will be helmed by Lee Jeong-eun, who curated the opening exhibition for the Korean Traditional Culture Center at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Lee also served as a curator for the Dongdaemun Design Plaza Design Fair.

Featuring works by Korean craft artists, the exhibition will allow visitors to experience the harmonious beauty of the palace's nature and craft works blending together at the royal palace, the agency added.