K-Wave AI News

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea.

Here's our top story.

A special Korea-Japan joint performance is set to be staged on Friday at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, marking the 60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic normalization. Co-organized by the Gugak Center and the Japan Arts Council, the event is part of an ongoing series of Korea-Japan cultural exchanges celebrating the special year. The Korean program will present the royal court music "Sujecheon" and "Hagyeonhwadaecheoyongmuhapseol," a composite performance that brings together prominent royal dances from the Joseon Dynasty. From Japan, performers from Okinawa will stage Ryukyu Dance and Kumi Odori, a traditional musical drama originally created to welcome Chinese imperial envoys. Kumi Odori is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The National Theater of Korea's flagship summer music event, the 'Yeowoorak Festival,' will kick off on July 4. This year's festival is poised to capture audiences with a fresh take on the charm of traditional Korean folk songs. Featuring Korea's beloved singers In Sooni and Choi Baek-ho, as well as jazz vocalists and indie bands, the festival will reinterpret folk songs through various musical genres. Artistic director Lee Hee-moon invited audiences to come and explore a "whimsical land of folk music." Since its debut in 2010, Yeowoorak has presented innovative performances rooted in Korean music, attracting over 82,000 spectators to date.

Have you ever seen Korea's east coast transformed into a vibrant sea of purple lavender? Donghae City is set to host its annual Lavender Festival at 'Mureung Byeolyucheonji,' a renowned tourist spot celebrated for its emerald-green lake and stunning natural scenery. From June 14 to 22, visitors can immerse themselves in breathtaking views as 12,000 lavender plants bloom across a sprawling 20,000-square-meter field. This year, the festival introduces nightscape lighting with extended visiting hours until 10 PM, creating a captivating and enchanting atmosphere after dark. Visitors can also enjoy a unique nighttime boating excursion on the lake, so don't miss it!

That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.