Multicultural festival celebrates diversity

Official poster for the Migrants' Arirang Multicultural Festival for 2018 /Yonhap

By Jung Hae-myoung

Migrant's Arirang Multicultural Festival (MAMF), one of the largest events involving interracial families and migrant workers, will be held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, from Oct.5 to 7.

The annual festival used as held in Seoul from 2005 to 2010, before moving to the regional city.

One country is selected as a “country of honor” and its culture is introduced during the festival period. This year, it is featuring the Philippines.

Manny Pacquiao, a former world boxing champion and now a politician, is the festival's honorary ambassador.

“You will be able to enjoy the best Filipino culture from events arranged by performing groups and artists from the Philippines,” Pacquiao said in a congratulatory video.

The theme of this year's festival is “Eat, Play, Love.” The programs include bazaars, art performances, concerts and parades. Visitors can try traditional clothes, food and games.

Main performances include a migrants' song festival, an Asian pop music concert, parades and dance and choir performances.

The Philippine Performing Art Company will perform on Oct. 5 and 6 at Changwon Sungsan Art Hall, while foreign participants will perform in the migrants' song festival on Oct. 6, in front of 500 Changwon citizens, who will be the judges.

On Oct. 7, singers from across Asia will perform at the Asia pop concert. At the closing ceremony, people from 13 countries will participate in a parade at Yongji Munhwa Park.

MAMF aims to increase interaction between people from Asian countries, immigrants and Koreans. Last year 220,000 people attended the festival. Organizers expect 250,000 visitors this year.

Ambassadors from Asian countries will also visit to support foreign residents from their countries living in Korea.