Glimmering with Joy: The 2009 Seoul Festival of Lights

ธันวาคม 28, 2009

Glimmering with Joy: The 2009 Seoul Festival of Lights

The Gwanghwamun Plaza has been adorned with sparkling lights in preparation for the Seoul Festival of Lights that opened last Saturday.

The 2009 Seoul Festival of Lights combines the infinite creativity of artists with cutting edge media technology, beaming a rainbow of lights. The festival presents a range of media performances featuring a combination of scenic night plaza views, nostalgic lights and enchanting music. One of the most prominent performances of the festival is the Media Facade where a diverse array of tones, colors and shapes are projected on the sides of neighboring buildings including the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, KT, and the Kyobo building. Various images from flowing clouds to Seoul in the past are presented during the show.

Plus, there is a citizen participation event where the experiences of citizens in the Plaza are broadcasted live. Around ice skating rink, colorful lightings and light works of famous artists are installed and exhibited. The festival of lights provides a perfect way to say farewell to 2009 and greet the New Year at the Seoul?s delightful city center.

?Major Events

1.Fractal Turtleship: Light of History
Fractal Turtleship by the late Paik Nam June, a world-renowned video artist, has been brought to the open-air plaza. It is a standing exhibition throughout the festival presented as a video installation, which features the history behind the famous turtleship through technology and lights.

2. Media Facades: Light of Culture, Light of Communication
Lights project a beautiful panorama of the 600-year history of Seoul, and the city?s yesterday, today and tomorrow on the facades of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and KT building.

From 7-10 pm, media performances are held every hour, and every 30 minutes a citizen participation interactive performance is held.

3. Video Concert by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra: Symphony of Lights
The performances of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra including Christmas carols and a year-end concert are projected live filling the air of Gwanghwamun Plaza with beautiful melodies.

The performance is held every day from 7-10 pm, at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts/ KT building.

? Special Program
– December 24-25th, 2009: Christmas Carols by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
- December 29th, 2009: ?New World? Year-End Symphony broadcasted live
- January 6th, 2010: 2010 New Year?s Concert broadcasted live

4. Square of Lights: Light of Creation
At every corner of Gwanghwamun Plaza visitors can view the works of media artists while enjoying the Passage of Light performances, which consists of 20 televisions. Entering the plaza, visitors are warmly greeted by a tower of light, which displays traditional patterns of Korea and Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Also, at the Photo Zone, you may take pictures alongside the light installations making sure the memories are captured forever.

Every day, from 5:00 pm to 10:00pm, at Gwanghwamun Central Square, Haechi Madang

5. Gwanghwamun Plaza Skating Rink: Lights of Repose
The newly created skating rink in Gwanghwamun Plaza consists of a small, medium and large-sized rink. Among them, a small one is also used for a sled riding. Have fun skating and enjoying the festivities filled with the joy of being together with loved ones.

Period: December 11, 2009 ~ February 15, 2010
Time: Weekdays (Mon~Thu) 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Weekends & Holidays 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Fees: KRW 1,000 (one hour, includes skate and helmet rental)
Official website: www.seoulskate.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese)

?The 2009 Seoul Festival of Lights

? Festival Period: From Dec 19th 2009 to Jan 24th, 2010
? Venue: Gwanghwamun Plaza, Seoul
? Getting There: Get off at Gwanghwamun Subway Station, Line 5. The station is connected to Haechi Madang, which leads directly to Gwanghwamun Plaza.
? Official Website: http://winter.hiseoulfest.org/ (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)