Korean Cultural Centers Worldwide to Host Chuseok and Hangeul Day Events in 20 Countries

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on October 2 that, in celebration of Chuseok and Hangeul Day, various cultural events will be held at 23 Korean Cultural Centers across 20 countries, inviting locals to participate.

The Korean Cultural Center in Washington D.C. will co-host the "2025 Chuseok Cultural Event" with the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art on October 4. This flagship event of the Korean Cultural Center has attracted over 5,000 participants each year since 2023. This year, Korean traditional folk wrestling, or ssireum, will be introduced for the first time in Washington D.C.

The Korean Cultural Center in France will hold the ninth annual "This Is Korea" festival in the port city of La Rochelle through October 10. The festival will share the abundance and spirit of Chuseok through activities such as making songpyeon (rice cakes), trying on hanbok, and participating in traditional folk games.

Chuseok also offers an opportunity to experience Korean films. In Sweden, "Korean Film Week" will be held in conjunction with the local Asian Film Festival on October 11-12, presenting movies such as "Ode to My Father," "I Can Speak," "1987: When the Day Comes," and "Harbin," along with a "Chuseok Gift Bundle" prize event. In Australia, the "2025 Australia Korean Film Festival" will provide free traveling screenings in small and medium-sized cities, giving locals greater access to Korean cinema.

Last year, the Korean Cultural Center in Washington D.C. held a traditional performance event.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Korean Speaking Contest Hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam Last Year [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Cultural events inspired by the globally popular animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" are also planned. The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines will host the "Defend the Soul Gate" event from October 6 to 11, featuring activities such as making traditional Korean knot bracelets inspired by the one given by the character Lumi to Jinwoo in the film, and drawing "Jakho-do" (paintings of tigers and magpies) based on the characters Duffy (tiger) and Seo (magpie). Additionally, traditional performances, samulnori (Korean percussion), and songpyeon-making activities will be held in Belgium, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries to share the festive spirit of Korean holidays.

The Korean Cultural Center in Japan will hold the "Korea-Japan Exchange Essay Contest 2025" and the "Hangeul Calligraphy Contest 2025" on October 9. This year's essay contest received a record 4,455 entries, with participants ranging from elementary school students to grandmothers in their 80s, demonstrating strong interest in Hangeul. The Korean Cultural Center in Osaka is currently hosting the "Korean Writing Gathering," with 280 high-quality submissions under review. The winning works will be announced at an online awards ceremony on October 11 and will be released on the Korean Cultural Center's website.

In New York, the "Hangeul Truck" featuring works by artist Kang Ikjoong has been touring five major universities in the eastern United States, including Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, since September 26. Local youths can input their visions for the future in various languages, which are then transformed into digital Hangeul artworks displayed on the media wall of the Hangeul Truck.

Other events around the world include a "Korean Poetry Recitation Contest" in Russia, a "Korean Speaking Contest" in South Africa, and Hangeul calligraphy experiences in the United Kingdom, Austria, and Hungary. These diverse activities are expected to further boost global interest in Hangeul and enthusiasm for learning Korean.

Yoon Yangsu, Director General for International Cultural Promotion at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "With the recent popularity of K-Pop Demon Hunters, global interest in our traditional culture and Hangeul has grown significantly, so we have prepared a variety of events for Chuseok and Hangeul Day. We hope these events will allow locals to experience the spirit of Chuseok and the charm of Hangeul more closely."

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