Seoul Friendship Festival refuses to be stopped this year

Performers wear traditional clothes at the Seoul Friendship Festival in 2019. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

The Seoul Friendship Festival, the city’s largest multicultural festival, is returning after two years.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that it will host the Seoul Friendship Festival 2022 this weekend at Seoul Plaza, Mugyo-ro and Cheonggyecheon-ro with 46 participating embassies.

The festival was first held in 1996, so marks its 25th edition this year. The 2020 event was canceled and the 2021 festival held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The food fair, which draws many visitors, will be held around Mugyo-ro and Cheonggyecheon-ro and feature food from 37 countries around the world including Pot Thai from Thailand, Bratwurst from Germany and Feijoada from Brazil. Visitors will be able to get 1,000-won (70 cents) discounts if they bring their own containers for food.

Thirty-four countries will be featured in the tourism fair. The booths on Seoul Plaza will promote the countries’ traditional crafts, including activities such as grinding Jordanian coffee beans, tasting Georgian wine, and making traditional bead crafts from Ghana.

Cultural performances will feature a martial arts capoeira from Brazil, traditional music of Latvia and salsa from Colombia.

People will be able to try traditional clothes from 12 countries, including Nigeria, Peru and Cambodia. The traditional games from nine countries will also be offered.

For more information, visit the Seoul Friendship Festival 2022 website, Facebook or Instagram account, or call 02-120.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]