Annual festival of global taste and style to be held in Itaewon

Annual festival of global taste and style to be held in Itaewon. October. 14, 2016 07:31. by 강승현기자 byhuman@donga.com.

The "Global Village Festival" to be held this weekend in Itaewon, Seoul will treat visitors with a variety of cultures from around the world. The festival, which marks its 15th anniversary, has attracted more than one million visitors from home and abroad every year.

This year's festival showcases its extended features with major sites including Itaewon boulevard, the recently created Vietnamese Qui Nhon street and Antique furniture street. During the festival, stages near the Noksapyeong subway station will attract participants with various events including "World Folk Costume Fashion Show" and "DJ Party with Itaewon Club DJs."

Nineteen ambassadors in Korea will cut the tape at the opening ceremony. A variety of tasting events will also entice those looking for exotic flavor. Each corner of Itaewon streets will be filled with reasonably priced global dishes held under "World Food Festival" and "Korean Food Festival." Korean traditional performances such as "tightrope walking" will also take place.

Starting its first day of the festival on Oct. 15, the "Global Village Parade" will be held by around 1,000 citizens, soldiers, and policemen for two hours starting at 3 p.m. Along with various performances, the 1.4-kilometer parade will start from Hangangjin subway station to Noksapyeong subway station. From Oct. 15 to 2 a.m. on Oct. 17, vehicles will be controlled from Itaewon-ro to Bokwang-ro.