CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO < invest Korea

According to Yonhap News,

(CHEONGJU=Yonhap News) A joint cultural project by South Korea, China and Japan has paved the way for boosting regional exchanges by offering a wide mix of festivals, concerts and symposiums, organizers said Monday.

The project, in which the three countries each designate a "culture city" every year to represent their countries, first kicked off earlier in February with a grand opening ceremony held in the respective cities.

For South Korea, the city of Cheongju, 137 kilometers south of Seoul, has been chosen as the host for this year's events, while China and Japan have designated Qingdao and Niigata, respectively.

A slew of colorful and culture-packed events have already been taking place in the three cities, with more to come later this year as the project aims to host some 20 exchange programs throughout the latter half of 2015.

High school students from the South Korean provincial city showcased a traditional percussion performance, also known as samulnori, in the Chinese city, while other professional dance groups showed off their moves in Japan as well.

During a three-day festival held in Qingdao late last month, organizers from Cheongju helped to flaunt the scenic beauty of its provincial city to foreign onlookers via a watercolor painting and photo exhibition by South Korean artists.

Upcoming events include an art festival here in Cheongju, beginning on Aug. 21, as well as a calligraphy event in Niigata and an animation and film exchange function in Qingdao, both slated for next month, organizers said.

Later in November, a trilateral forum on culture and art will take place in Qingdao, along with a chopstick-themed festival in Cheongju, both of which will provide a venue for the people of all three countries to mingle and experience one another's culture.

yjkim8826@yna.co.kr

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