[PROVINCIAL NEWS] Korea's largest multicultural festival kicks off in Changwon

The ˝Migrant Arirang Multicultural Festival,˝ the largest multicultural festival in Korea, will be held in Changwon from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 to promote mutual understanding between Koreans and migrants. / Courtesy of South Gyeongsang Province migrant community service center

By Hong Dam-young

Diversity and harmony will be in the air of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province when the largest multicultural festival for migrants in Korea begins this weekend.

The ˝Migrant Arirang Multicultural Festival˝ (MAMF), an annual fall event, will run from September 30 to October 2. It was launched in Seoul in 2005 and has been held in Changwon since 2010. The province’s migrant community service center hosts the event.

This year’s guest of honor, Cambodia, has prepared a traditional dance, ˝Apsara,˝ which will be performed by the country’s ˝Performance of National Dancing Troupe of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.˝

Participants from Mongolia, Nepal, Cambodia and Indonesia also will perform with a multicultural children’s choir from Changwon.

Festival highlights include a singing contest on the second day. Winners will receive prize money and help to enter Korean show business.

Popular singers from seven participating countries will hold an ˝Asian Pop Music Concert˝ to wrap up the event on the last day.

On the third day, participants from 12 Asian countries will dress in traditional clothing and parade through Changwon.

˝The festival will feature various events intended to promote mutual understanding between Koreans and migrants,˝ an official of the community service center told The Korea Times.

˝In this multicultural era, with about 1.8 million migrants living in Korea, we hope the event relieves the distorted, negative perspective towards migrants in Korea.˝

Korean rocker Yoon Do-hyun has been appointed as public ambassador to promote the festival.