By Lee Kyung-min
Some 1,000 people will hold hands for Ganggangsullae, a 5,000-year-old Korean circle dance, in Gwanghwamun Square, downtown Seoul, on Friday and Saturday, the event organizer said Wednesday.
According to the Jongno District Office, the event is part of the three-day Jongno Hanbok Festival to be held Friday to Sunday to promote traditional Korean culture including food, folk games and hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing.
The evening dance party will be headed by two Ganggangsullae performers who are designated as intangible cultural assets and a traditional artist group based on the southwestern island of Jindo. Residents will be invited to join in.
On Friday, more than 300 students of Pungmoon Girls’ High School in Samcheong-dong will reenact a royal parade moving from the school to the square.
The three-day event will close with a fashion show with more than 100 models wearing traditional garments worn by royalty during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), walking a 1.1-kilometer runway from Bukchon Hanok Village to Insa-dong.
During the event, hanbok-clad people will be allowed free admission to Gyeongbok, Changgyeong and Changdeok palaces. More than 101 restaurants in the district will offer discounts up to 10 percent.