By Kim Rahn
An annual global festival will take place in Itaewon, a special tourist and shopping district in central Seoul, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 6.
The Yongsan District Office said Tuesday that the nine-day Itaewon Global Village Festival will kick off with expanded programs ranging from food and shopping to performances.
The highlight of the festival will be a parade at 3 p.m. on the opening day. On the 1.3-kilometer Itaewon Street, some 1,500 people will hold a parade from the eastern end near Hangangjin Station to the western end near Noksapyeong Station.
“Parade participants will include those in Korea’s royal costumes and traditional garments of 30 countries, drum and fife bands, the U.S. Eighth Army’s military band, the district offices’ taekwondo team, and several traditional Korean performance troupes,” a district official said.
For the parade, two car lanes of the street from the eastern end to Hamilton Hotel and all lanes from the hotel to the western end will be closed.
On the second day, a diversity of performances will be presented from noon to 9 p.m. at a stage near Noksapyeong Station, such as b-boys and rock bands.
World cuisine booths will also be set up for the first two days, as well as traditional craftwork and musical instruments from various countries will be introduced.
Shoppers will be able to enjoy discounts and various promotions during the whole festival period.