The Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Seoul was held at the COEX convention center in Gangnam-gu District, southern Seoul, on Sept. 20. Various programs took place on the day to help people better understand the cultures and traditions of each country. Programs included celebratory concerts and art and tourism promotional booths.
The Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Seoul was held along Yeonse-ro in Sinchon, in Seodaemun-gu District, and at the COEX convention center in Gangnam-gu District, on Sept. 19 and 20.
This annual festival is designed to offer chances for people to experience and better understand the arts and traditions of both Korea and Japan. It first began in 2005, a Korea-Japan Friendship Year, to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo. It has now become one of the leading cultural exchanges between the two countries.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan diplomatic ties, this year’s events were held under the theme of “Let’s Open a New Future Together.” To commemorate the meaning of the bilateral relationship, various cultural events and experience programs were held in Seoul.
Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Kim Jongdeok delivers his celebratory remarks during the opening ceremony of the Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Seoul on Sept. 20.
During the opening ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Kim Jongdeok said, “As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Korea and Japan, this year’s festival holds even greater significance. I wish for a successful hosting of this year’s events, themed as ‘Let’s Open a New Future Together,’ with the hope that the relationship between our countries can become firmer over the next 40 years based on the bilateral exchanges we have shared over the past 50 years, all while communicating with each other through our cultures.”
“I hope that the Korea-Japan Festival can lead cultural exchanges between the two countries and that it can offer opportunities for both sides to develop cultural contacts in the future,” the minister added.
The Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Tokyo will be held at Hibiya Park in Tokyo on Sept. 26 and 27.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon So-hyang, Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism
arete@korea.kr
Korean and Japanese performances are held to celebrate the opening of the Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Seoul on Sept. 20, under the theme of ‘Let’s Open a New Future Together.’
Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koro Bessho speaks during the opening ceremony of the Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Seoul on Sept. 20.
Visitors look around tourism promotional booths for Korea and Japan at the festival.
Visitors look around booths that promote the arts of both countries at the Korea-Japan Festival 2015 in Seoul on Sept. 20.
