The 39th Korea Theater Festival Opens in Andong ... Theme: 'Rebuild'

Opening Ceremony at Andong Talchum Performance Hall... Continues Until August 8

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The '39th Korea Theater Festival in Andong·Yecheon' opened at 7 p.m. on the 17th at the Andong Talchum Performance Hall and will continue until August 8.

The opening declaration on this day was read in parts by senior theater artist Kim Jong-ho, Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Andong Mayor Kwon Young-se, Yecheon County Governor Kim Hak-dong, Chairman Park Jong-gwan of the Korea Arts Council, Gyeongbuk Superintendent of Education Lim Jong-sik, Chairman Oh Tae-geun of the Korea Theater Festival Organizing Committee, Executive Chairman Jo Hyun-sang of the Korea Theater Festival, and Andong Gyeongan High School 2nd-year student Ahn Hye-won.

After the opening declaration, everyone on stage shouted "Oh My God" and performed a gesture of throwing their traditional hats into the sky. This year's festival slogan "Oh My God" encapsulates the wonder of theater as well as the yangban spirit and Confucian culture of Andong and Yecheon.

At the opening ceremony, congratulatory performances were held by the Korea Theater Festival Fringe Festival participating teams (Free Soul, Healing Mailbox), along with a themed performance titled "Again, Rebuild," which called for rebuilding Korea as a cultural powerhouse in Andong and Yecheon. The event concluded with fireworks beautifully decorating the night sky over Andong and the Nakdong River.

In particular, the hosting duties on this day were shared by actor Son Byung-ho, who is from Andong, veteran actress Oh Hyun-kyung, and actress Oh Ji-hye, daughter of Yoon So-jung, adding special meaning to the event.

The Korea Theater Festival is a core cultural project of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, where representative theaters from 16 cities and provinces nationwide gather annually to share and spread Korean theater and performance culture together.

This year's Korea Theater Festival is hosted by Gyeongbuk Province, Andong City, Yecheon County, and the Korea Theater Association, and organized by the Gyeongsangbuk-do branch of the Korea Theater Association and the Korea Theater Festival Executive Committee.

Originating from the 1983 National Local Theater Festival (held in Busan), the Korea Theater Festival boasts 39 years of history and tradition as the largest and most prestigious theater festival in Korea. It was held in Gyeongbuk Province for the first time in 12 years since the 27th National Theater Festival was held in Gumi in 2009.

Andong Mayor Kwon Young-se said, "I hope this becomes a festival ground where theater artists and citizens from across the country unite and enjoy together," adding, "We will strive even harder so that Andong can grow into the center of Korean culture and arts through hosting the country's largest theater festival."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.