Closing to feature Korea’s beauty

The closing ceremony of the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships will take place in the southwestern city on Sunday, featuring the region’s seasonal wonders in various forms, organizers said.

The closing ceremony, wrapping up the 17-day global aquatics festival that opened in Gwangju on July 12, will consist of two parts — a one-hour cultural performance set to begin at 5 p.m. at the Asia Culture Center and the official event scheduled to begin at 10:40 p.m. at the Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center.

A look at part of the closing ceremony that will be put on by the Organizing Committee of the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The cultural performance will focus on the characteristic of water circulating in nature, the southern region’s seasonal wonders and human life cycles under the theme “Circle of Life.”

Taking a cue from the atmosphere and tastes of the four seasons expressed in ancient poem “Song of Mount Seongsan,” the performance will display the life of a traditional singer against the backdrop of spring, summer, fall and winter landscapes.

Members of the Gwangju City Ballet and other artists born in the city or living in the southwestern province will take part in the performance.

A performance by Korea’s renowned pansori (traditional narrative singing) singer Ahn Sook-sun in the winter scene will likely be the highlight of the cultural performance. The performance will be directed by Korean dance expert Guk Su-ho, Choi Tae-ji, head of the Gwangju City Ballet, and lighting director Lee Sang-bong.

The official event, slated to take place for 30 minutes at the Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, will include lowering and transferring the championships flag, introducing the next host city and declaring the closure of the event. The next FINA World Championships will take place in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2021.

Yonhap