Arko launches Sum Festa to bring performing arts festivals together
Arts Council Korea (Arko) seeks to foster collaboration across genres and regions with the launch of its new umbrella brand, 'Sum Festa,' bringing together 17 of the 45 performing arts festivals it supports nationwide.
The initiative aims to connect theater, dance, music and traditional arts festivals under one banner, while preserving each event's distinct character and local roots. This summer's lineup includes events such as the Arts in Tank Dance Festival (July 1-27), the ChangMu International Performing Arts Festival (Aug. 22-31) and the Hic et Nunc Festival (Aug. 22-Sept. 5) by the Sejong Soloists.
Previously operated independently, the participating festivals will now engage in joint marketing, cross-genre programming and regional partnerships. According to Arko, the unified platform is intended to build greater synergy and reach broader audiences across the country.
Actor Park Jeong-ja, who will appear in the Evergreen Theater Festival (July 30-Aug. 17) featuring veteran stage actors, welcomed the initiative.
'There's something heartwarming about these different festivals coming together under one name to meet audiences,' she said during a press conference on Monday. 'Performing arts festivals serve as bridges connecting people and art, and this is a meaningful step toward sharing that connection more widely.'
Conductor Baek Yoon-hak, who will lead the opening of the July Festival (July 1–31), a monthlong classical music series celebrating major composers, joined the initiative.
'The performing arts are, by nature, collaborative,' he said. 'Festivals are a larger stage for that collaboration. I hope this shared brand will spark new encounters between artists and audiences, across genres and regions.'
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Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Korea Herald
Arko launches Sum Festa to bring performing arts festivals together
Arts Council Korea (Arko) seeks to foster collaboration across genres and regions with the launch of its new umbrella brand, 'Sum Festa,' bringing together 17 of the 45 performing arts festivals it supports nationwide. The initiative aims to connect theater, dance, music and traditional arts festivals under one banner, while preserving each event's distinct character and local roots. This summer's lineup includes events such as the Arts in Tank Dance Festival (July 1-27), the ChangMu International Performing Arts Festival (Aug. 22-31) and the Hic et Nunc Festival (Aug. 22-Sept. 5) by the Sejong Soloists. Previously operated independently, the participating festivals will now engage in joint marketing, cross-genre programming and regional partnerships. According to Arko, the unified platform is intended to build greater synergy and reach broader audiences across the country. Actor Park Jeong-ja, who will appear in the Evergreen Theater Festival (July 30-Aug. 17) featuring veteran stage actors, welcomed the initiative. 'There's something heartwarming about these different festivals coming together under one name to meet audiences,' she said during a press conference on Monday. 'Performing arts festivals serve as bridges connecting people and art, and this is a meaningful step toward sharing that connection more widely.' Conductor Baek Yoon-hak, who will lead the opening of the July Festival (July 1–31), a monthlong classical music series celebrating major composers, joined the initiative. 'The performing arts are, by nature, collaborative,' he said. 'Festivals are a larger stage for that collaboration. I hope this shared brand will spark new encounters between artists and audiences, across genres and regions.'
Korea Herald
18-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Seoul International Book Fair opens to record crowds, famous faces
Actor Park Jeong-min, chef Choi Kang-rok and former President Moon Jae-in bring star power to largest book event On the opening morning of the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair, the exhibition hall at Coex in Gangnam-gu was already packed with eager visitors. By the time the doors officially opened at 10 a.m. Wednesday, a seemingly endless queue had formed, snaking around the venue — a scene that spoke volumes about the fair's popularity. Tickets for the event, which runs through Sunday, were already sold out before opening day via online reservations. No on-site ticket sales are available, with exceptions made only for preschoolers, individuals with disabilities, national merit recipients and seniors aged 65 and over, who are granted free admission. Although the Korean Publishers Association, the event organizer, declined to disclose the exact number of tickets issued, 2024's fair drew 150,000 attendees over five days. The majority of attendees were in their 20s and 30s. One visitor in her 30s, surnamed Jeon, said she had taken a day off work to attend, adding, 'Last year, it was so crowded I couldn't properly browse. I came prepared to really 'shop' this time.' An avid collector of bookmarks, Jeon noted that she was also on the lookout for books with exclusive covers and goods sold only during the fair. 'This is my third year at the book fair,' she said. 'But today feels like the most crowded yet. It seems to grow every year.' Major publishers such as Moonji Publishing, Changbi Publishers, EunHaengNaMu Publishing and Munhakdongne Publishing set up large booths that drew long lines, some even wrapping entirely around the spaces. At the same time, several small independent houses quietly captured attention, drawing steady crowds from the early morning hours, many drawn by popular figures such as actor Park Jeong-min and former President Moon Jae-in, who brought star power to these intimate booths. Park, now head of his independent publishing house Muze, personally handed out copies of his latest release, "Fierce Independence" — a limited edition numbered 1 to 500 — to customers at the event. Fans had lined up as early as 8 a.m., including a fan in her 30s, surnamed Kim, who was hoping to snag one of the single-digit copies. She also planned to attend a book talk on Saturday featuring Park and author Kim Geum-hee, who published "My First Summer, Wanju." Elsewhere, chef Choi Kang-rok from Netflix's hit cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" drew long lines for his debut essay's signing event in the morning. Another anticipated appearance came mid-afternoon, when former President Moon appeared at the Pyeongsan Books' booth, where he serves as 'book manager.' Crowds gathered well in advance, and cheers erupted as Moon arrived around 2:30 p.m. He later participated as an award presenter and speaker at the Best Book of Korea ceremony held at 5 p.m. Finding refuge, celebrating partnerships This year's fair is themed 'The Last Resort' — a nod to the role books play as a refuge in uncertain times. The 2025 SIBF features more than 530 participating publishers and literary organizations, 100 of which are from 16 countries overseas. 'Books are the soul of our humanity, our future and the nourishment that elevates our lives. The fair should be a space to share each other's tastes and cultures," said KPA President Yoon Chul-ho during his welcome speech. Taiwan, this year's Guest of Honor, is showcasing a special pavilion under the concept of 'Taiwan Sensibility.' Rex How, chair of Taiwan's Taipei Book Fair Foundation, introduced himself in Korean during the opening ceremony, noting that he was born in Busan. 'Taiwan as Guest of Honor at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair carries special significance,' said How. 'This year marks the 20th anniversary of Korea's first participation in the Taipei International Book Fair in 2005, and next year will be the 20th anniversary of the Sister & Friendship Cities partnership between Seoul and Taipei. It's a meaningful opportunity to not only celebrate the past two decades but also strengthen our friendship for the next 20 years.' Taiwan has invited 23 authors and scheduled 62 events throughout the week. In particular, International Booker Award-nominated author Wu Ming-yi held a talk session in the afternoon. Controversy over 'privatization' of SIBF Despite the opening day excitement, the fair also faced protests from a coalition of nine organizations, including the Korea Publishers Society and the Writers Association of Korea. At a press conference held outside Coex, the group raised concerns over what they described as the 'privatization' of the Seoul International Book Fair. The alliance accused KPA President Yoon of transforming the fair into a for-profit corporation that prioritizes shareholder interests over public benefit. They claimed that Yoon and a select group of insiders now hold 70 percent of the shares, dominating the event's decision-making. They emphasized that the Seoul International Book Fair has long been a public cultural asset, grown through the participation of numerous publishers and readers, with government support. The coalition demanded the dissolution of the current corporate structure and the establishment of a public committee to restore the fair's civic mission. This year's fair is co-hosted by the KPA and the newly established Seoul International Book Fair Corporation. Following a breakdown in government funding last year, the KPA converted the fair into a corporation to sustain operations. The KPA announced in May that the corporation is a nonprofit subsidiary dedicated to managing the fair, pledging no dividend payouts and full reinvestment of profits. It is currently under review by a Ministry of Employment and Labor-affiliated agency for recognition as a social enterprise. hwangdh@
Korea Herald
17-06-2025
- Korea Herald
ARKO successfully co-hosts the 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture
Cultural and Creative Sectors exploring the way forward in the age of AI and climate crisis and ascertaining its role in society SEOUL, South Korea, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Arts Council Korea (ARKO) successfully concluded the 10 th World Summit on Arts and Culture, welcoming 406 delegates from around the world to Seoul on 27-30 May. The Summit was co-hosted by ARKO and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) who have custodianship of the World Summits. As humanity undergoes transformative changes driven by artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and the fragmentation of communities, what questions should cultural policy makers and the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) be asking and what answers can they offer? Following the previous Summit in Stockholm, Sweden (2023), Seoul was unanimously selected as the next host city by the Board of IFACCA. The event brought together 406 delegates from 94 countries, including 104 speakers from 62 countries under the theme Charting the future of arts and culture and marked a pivotal moment in global cultural policy dialogue. At the heart of this year's Summit was the issue of AI. Beyond its technical dimensions, AI was addressed as a topic raising fundamental questions about cultural diversity, knowledge sovereignty, and the future of artistic creation. Participants engaged in deep conversations on how AI influences the arts, and how artists can preserve human narratives and their creative autonomy amid growing uncertainties. The Summit provided a platform for diverse voices, including Michael Running Wolf, an AI ethicist and Lead Architect at First Languages AI Reality (FLAIR), who drew from his Indigenous heritage, to share with delegates: "AI is a risk to cultural heritage not because it's intelligent but because it's stupid." He highlighted concerns about data exploitation and language standardization. Highlighting the polysynthetic nature of Indigenous languages, he argued that standardized English-based AI models are incapable of accommodating such linguistic diversity. He further emphasized that the mechanisms of AI replicate colonial patterns of exploitation and threaten cultural expression and intellectual property. Ayoung Kim, media artist from Ayoung Kim Studio, stated, "I make questions, I make suggestions in speculative forms, but it doesn't change the world." In contrast, Michael Running Wolf shared that his AI-based Indigenous language revitalization project is already producing real-world impact. Dr Alexandra Xanthaki, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights addressed delegates in the first plenary session, titled The future of culture in times of exponential shifts and delved into questions about the essence of culture in times of crisis. Dr Xanthaki, emphasized that culture should not be confined to individual interests, but should serve to restore humanity and identity. Furthermore, she emphasized that culture should be discussed in the context of human rights and call for future policies that address threats to diversity. The discussion on the relationship between AI and the arts continued during a parallel session titled Elastic futurity in Korean arts and culture: a critical examination. This session raised concerns that, since the dawn of the 21st century, from the Korean perspective, our capacity to imagine the future has diminished. As AI's predictive capabilities grow, fears were voiced that such technology might replace human imagination. In response, science fiction creators introduced narratives that move beyond technological optimism or dystopia, imagining more equitable and alternative futures. This discourse was interconnected to the multi-layered, cultural sensibility of Korea, and emphasized the arts as a space for experimentation to preserve the innate emotion and power of humanity's imagination. Other sessions addressed how the arts respond to global challenges such as the climate crisis, regional imbalances, polarization and the role of participatory systems for culture, solidarity and the resilience of communities and they showcased innovative cultural approaches to the urgent issues of our time. The "Wind" That Lasts Long in Memory: Artistic and Experiential Cultural Program of the Summit, curated by ARKO Breaking away from the conventional format of lecture and discussion-centered international summits, this event was designed as a fluid integration of policy, arts, and cultural experience. Guided by the symbolic theme of "wind," the Summit cultural and gastronomy programme incorporated: These elements were carefully curated to leave a lasting wind of inspiration in the minds of delegates after they return to their respective countries. Innovative and participatory session formats Another highlight was the World Café session, where participants from diverse countries and backgrounds engaged in open dialogue on equal footing. Together, they envisioned the world in 2050, discussed key challenges in the arts and culture, and proposed actionable roadmaps in the context of different regions. As stated at an interview by ARKO, Rafael Ivorra Zaragoza, IFACCA board member and deputy director general for international relations and the European Union at the Ministry of Culture, Spain, mentioned that such dialogue was highly effective in helping us understand policy cases from different countries. Other participatory formats included Long Tables and Workshops Phloeun Prim, member of International Programme Advisory Committee (IPAC) for the 10 th World Summit and Executive Director of Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), also praised the Summit's approach, stating that conversations in smaller groups enabled deeper reflection. ARKO's policy models gain international recognition as an emerging global policy partner Throughout the Summit, ARKO had the opportunity to showcase their various arts and cultural plans and policies both national and international. These included the Munhwanuri Card (Cultural Voucher), the Youth Culture & Art Pass and APE CAMP, underscore a commitment to inclusivity and sustainability in the cultural ecosystem. Cultural policymakers from various countries complimented ARKO's execution capacity and collaborative spirit, voicing optimism about future joint initiatives. Toward a UN Sustainable Agenda for Culture: a starting point for solidarity and collective action The 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture served as key milestone in the international dialogue on the governance of culture fostering shared understanding and solidarity around cultural policy issues across nations and institutions. Participants built consensus that the inherent value of arts and culture should not be framed merely from the industry perspective. Culture leaders from around the world reaffirmed their commitment to take action through continued international engagement. Kristin Danielsen, Chair of IFACCA and CEO of Arts and Culture Norway, affirmed "Going beyond making statements, the Summit has served to spur new global discussions—including the upcoming UNESCO ministerial-level conference MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona this September." She described the Summit as "an inclusive platform for shared thinking, knowledge exchange, and connection." She concluded that "our very presence in Korea itself reflects our strong commitment to arts and culture." In his closing address, ARKO Chair, Byoung Gug Choung declared, "Now is the time to move from query to action and solidarity." He underscored the social responsibility of the arts in addressing cultural inequalities driven by technological development and the climate crisis. His call to "act and connect from wherever we are" highlighted that this Summit went beyond a platform of mere declarations but served as a turning point toward implementation and global cooperation. The Summit provided a dynamic forum in which to formulate strategies for actionable cultural collaboration beyond symbolic declarations.
