Friendship Fair is this weekend

Seoul’s annual Friendship Fair - a global culture festival that this year will feature traditional dishes, folk art and performances from 56 countries - will be held Saturday and Sunday in the heart of the city, from Seoul Plaza to the neighboring Cheonggye Stream to the streets of Mugyo-dong.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said yesterday that passersby near the Seoul Plaza stage will be able to enjoy traditional performances by troupes from Seoul’s 17 partner cities, including Hokkaido, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates; Ankara, Turkey; and Moscow, Russia.

In addition to the foreign performances, a stage will feature Korean B-boys and traditional Korean performers competing in “Dance Battle: The Duel.”

Visitors can also sample the cuisines and crafts of nearly five dozen countries prepared by foreign embassies and foreign tourism organizations. The streets near Seoul Plaza will be lined with photo areas where people can have their pictures taken dressed in traditional foreign costumes.

At Cheonggye Plaza, an information fair will target expatriates who can drop by to find helpful tips and guides to living in Seoul between noon and 7 p.m.

“Families and couples who want to try foreign cuisines and see foreign performances usually have to pay a lot, because the best way to fully appreciate them is to travel overseas,” said Kim Jin-man of the Seoul city government’s international cooperation department.

“But this weekend, people who come to Seoul Plaza and its surrounds can enjoy traditional performances free of charge, and try a variety of cuisines for a reasonable price.”

The annual spring Seoul Friendship Fair kicked off in 1996. This year marks the 15th festival.

By Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]