Seoul City Intangible Cultural Heritage Gathered in One Place... Online '2021 Seoul Intangible Cultural Festival' Held

Online Event from 11th to 16th
Performances and Demonstrations of 19 Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Items Including Pansori and Salpuri Dance

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 8th that it will hold the 2021 Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival for six days starting October 11, where visitors can glimpse the craftsmanship and artistic spirit of the holders of Seoul's intangible cultural heritage.

This year's festival will be held online to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to introduce our cultural heritage to more domestic and international tourists. Unlike previous years when the event was held at Namsangol Hanok Village and Namsan Gugakdang, this year it will utilize various spaces such as Unhyeongung Palace, Seoul Museum of Craft Art, and the artisans' workshops to provide a more diverse and rich experience.

In particular, to overcome the limitations of an online festival, Seoul will distribute three specially made experience kits so that citizens can participate and enjoy the festival beyond just watching.

Additionally, Dr. Oh Suzanna, who has lived in Korea for 41 years, and Harvard Professor Jo Serin will participate to introduce various spaces in Seoul where the breath of intangible heritage can be felt online, such as the Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Education Exhibition Hall, Seoul Museum of Craft Art, and Uri Sori Museum, through online tour videos targeting foreigners residing in Korea.

The festival will conclude with special and invited performances prepared to offer comfort and healing to citizens weary from COVID-19. The special performance, the Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Masters Exhibition 'Myeongbulheojeon (名不虛傳)', will feature holders and successors of Pansori and Gobeop, Jaedam Sori, Salpuri dance, Ajaeng Sanjo, Songseo, Gyeongje Sijo, and Samhyeon Yukgak, showcasing the essence of Seoul's intangible culture. Furthermore, the invited performances will include folk performances from Jindo such as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Jindo Ssitgimgut, Jindo Dashiraegi, and Jindo Deulnorae.

Lee Hee-sook, Director of the Seoul City Historical Cultural Heritage Division, said, "Although the Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival will be held online again this year following last year, we have prepared various programs such as demonstration and experience videos, tour programs, and special performances so that citizens can feel the artisans' touch and alleviate their disappointment."

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