Junior Reporter
lugie@hanmail.net
The World Cup makes the whole nations uproarious. All Koreans are interested in the World Cup and some people go to stadiums in order to cheer and others watch at home. It is certain that all of them are enjoying soccer games. Various cultural events happen here and there. The UOS Times introduces some places worth visiting among them.
The Flag Art Festival
I visited the World Cup Park for the opening ceremony on March 29th. As you would know from the title, this is the event of displaying various kinds of flags. When I got off the subway, I realized that the World Cup is our nation’s festival with the giantic World Cup Stadium, many people and guards.
I headed for the park where the event took place leaving the stadium behind. First things I saw were many little flags with various colors at the side of the bridge to the entrance of the park. And there was a note on it. At first sight, it looked like a scribbling but it was the result of the event ‘Putting Hope in Flag’. The contents vary from their names to the words of cheering like ‘Korea and World Cup fighting’.
Following the way of the park, I saw many kinds of flags such as traditional flags, creation flags, FIFA flags and etc. They are total of 2002 flags. It was a little far from the place where the opening ceremony will be held. But watching the flags made me not bored. After walking about 20 minutes, many performances were held like music played by drum and fife band, presentation by Italian flag performance team and bicycle performance.
I was especially impressed at the drum and fife band’s performance. It was very splendid. Not only the event of the opening ceremony but also many events like ‘Putting Hope in Flag’ take place every day during the period of the World Cup. And on weekends, you can make a flag with leaves and flowers in the ‘Dying Flag Yard’ event. On the way home I was little tired but the smell of grasses and various flags remained in my memory.
Time : 2002. 5.29~6.25 (During the World Cup)
Place : World Cup Park
Transportation : subway - line 6, World Cup stadium station, Mapo-gu office station
Transportation : bus - Mapo-gu office station( 131, 135-1, 135-2, 328, 328-1, 41, 588-1, 588-2, 130)
Light Festival takes place at Kwanghwamun and Sejongro.
Kwanghwamun - exhibit the world civilization by image “Door of City”
It represents the most charming night in Sejongro by giving shapes to various doors which show the world’s culture and history at two-minute intervals. There are many kinds of doors; the door of sky which means the life and the death, the door of revolution symbolizing the French Revolution, the door of departure which represents the sea and etc. You can see various and magnificent light shows.
Sejongro - go forward to the world “Ship of Light Floating the Sea of Traffic”
An image of ‘ship’ is created as the motive of communication connecting Kwanghwamun with world to send the massage that Kwanghwamun is the center of the world. Continuously, the belt of light from the bronze statue of the Admiral Lee to Kwanghwamun becomes waves and many cars in Sejonro produce the fantastical nights by rippling.
Time : 2002. 5. 15~6.25, 8~12 p.m.
Place : Kwanghwamun, Sejonro
Seoul International Firework Festival
Since old times, firework displays have always been performed in ceremony events. It displays in the Han river which represents Korea to pray the successful opening of the World Cup. We can find other events worth seeing.
For example, you can see public broadcasting shows with famous actors and family movies every Sunday. Besides an electric board relays soccer games everyday so the people who cannot go to the stadium can also feel the enthusiasm of the stadium. The performance which started on May 25th from American team continues to Australian, Japanes, Chinese, and the last show is about Korean and Italian team.
Here, you can experience the brilliant firework of the East and the West. Firework displays start at the 8:30 p.m. and continues for 30 minutes. Every time 10,000 fireworks are discharged and you can also go there for free. However, there is one thing you have to keep in mind. If you plan to enjoy the event in an excursion ship, you would better not go. Because it is not operating during the event.
Transportation : subway - line 5, Yeouinaru station
Transportation : bus- Yeouido high school
Transportation : (123,123-1,133-2,145,326,703,823,823-1)
Time : every sunday in June
Place : Yeouido Han-River Park
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