All in white, 1,000 gather for Seoul’s 1st Diner en Blanc
Diner en Blanc participants pose for the camera during the outdoor party. [DINER EN BLANC SEOUL]
Saturday was an exception. Around 7 p.m., a mass of partiers dressed elegantly in all white, assembled at Some Sevit in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul at 7 p.m. to enjoy the first Seoul edition of Diner en Blanc, a guerilla dinner party that began in France in 1988.
Although the participants had to pay $45 and to bring their own food, drinks, utensils, tables and chairs, that didn’t stop them from coming to the outdoor party to enjoy a meal, music, and most importantly, to show off their unique style. Even the cloudy sky that threatened rain throughout the event couldn’t stop them from being fully entertained.
The attendees of Diner en Blanc, French for “dinner in white,” consisted of men and women of all ages.
According to 46-year-old stylist Shin Woo-sik, who came with his friends, “I searched for the photos and videos of this party held in other cities because I was very excited about it.
“I think having a specific dress code and preparing the food by ourselves is all part of the fun.”
Many foreigners were also in attendance, including French Ambassador Fabien Penone.
Dinner was accompanied by jazz music performed by the Kyungsik Choi Quartet, but the party really began to heat up when The Barberettes took the stage. The all-female barbershop trio performed upbeat numbers that had people in the crowd singing along.
As the night got darker, French DJ Yann Cavaille heightened the mood. The participants, perhaps a little tipsy from the bottles of wine they were encouraged to bring, headed to the dance floor in droves to celebrate with their friends and lovers.
Another Diner en Blanc will be held in Busan in the latter part of the year.
BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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