Seoul Opens the New Gate for People of All Color

       There was food, flags of many nations, clothes, dances and most importantly, there was a spirit of many nations gathering into one heart.

 

                   Chinese tradional dances are performed at the stage of the Seoul Friendship Fair.


Seoul opens up for all people to become one

         Seoul is trying to open new gates for many foreigners. ‘Seoul Friendship Fair 2011’, a festival held in Seoul Plaza through May 7th and 8th, provided opportunities for people of all nations to gather together. This fair is held annually every May for Korean citizens, foreigners living in Korea and visitors from different countries. For 2011, the theme of the fair was, "Meetings of the people from all across the globe, sharing and becoming one". The fair was named 'Seoul Friendship Fair' to resemble that as many countries gather into one area with one heart, foreigners and locals can make a strong bond. There was food, flags of many nations, clothes, dances and most importantly, there was a spirit of many nations gathering into one heart.

            ‘Seoul Friendship Fair 2011’, held by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, set a goal to offer an opportunity for Koreans and foreigners to gather into one place; and this goal was undeniably met. On stage, there were special performances such as Mexico, Bangkok, and 7 other countries’ traditional dances. Off stage, booths were set for people to freely enjoy. People seemed to enjoy walking from booth to booth on foot. At these booths, they could enjoy many different countries’ traditional foods and even try on cultural costumes. “My kids and I really enjoyed the booth where we could try on cultural costumes. It was very special to be able to try on so many cultural costumes instead of just looking at them through picture,” Hyun-Sook Song, a mother of two children, commented about the cultural costumes booth.

A Korean man is asking about the cultural foods from Sri Lanka at the food booth.

 

220 Different countries all gathered into one land

           Next to the costumes booth, there stood about 220 different nations’ booths. Starting from Australia to Venezuela, there stood booths with each nation’s names and flags with each person from that country. They laid out the traditional items from their country which people could buy. Hee Jin Lee, a college student, said “It was so interesting to be able to so many countries’ cultures all at once. The festival was like a 1+199 package.” At the end of the booths they also had polls to vote on the best nation’s food. A student volunteer at the last booth said, “The festival was a great experience for me. As I volunteered, I was able to talk to so many foreigners. I didn’t even know that there were so many foreigners living in Korea before! I am glad to know that Korea is becoming a land for more and more kinds of people.”

           “’The Seoul Friendship Fair 2011’ allowed me to see Korean’s efforts to help us fit in. It feels great to know that people are trying to accept us,” Julio, a foreign exchange student from South America said. Before, Korea has been criticized for its strong bond for only our race. However, now starting with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korea is opening up more chances for foreigners to become one with the citizens. Seoul is welcoming people of all colors with an accepting heart. Seoul Friendship Fair was first held in 1996, and the 2011 one celebrates its 16th anniversary. In 2004, 5 countries with 90 foreign performancers were invited to this fair. However, now in 2011, 16 countries with over 350 performancers were invited. Also, compared to last year, there have been more countries participating in the cultural food booths-making more people excited for next year's fair. As we see many more countries participating in this fair, we can feel the spirit of the foreigners and Koreans having some kind of bond now. Friendship means having a strong bond with another. As the 'Seoul Friendship Fair' grows, so is the bond, friendship, for Koreans and foreigners.