Nami Island Holds Foreigners Free Festival
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Nami Island, known as the location for the popular TV drama ``Winter Sonata,'' is offering free admission to foreign visitors for nine days from Saturday.
The ``Foreigner's Free Festival'' (iNDi Fest 2009) will be held on the picturesque island Feb. 28-March 8, marked by a series of art exhibitions, dance performances and concerts.
Located in Chuncheon, 63 kilometers east of Seoul, Nami Island was where young love blossomed between Winter Sonata's lead characters, played by hallyu stars Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo.
Tourists, mostly Japanese fans of the series, came in droves to the small island in 2005 and 2006. But as the drama's popularity faded, so did tourists' arrivals.
``We want to welcome more foreigners to Nami Island. Every year, we hold international festivals, but this is the first time we are having a free festival exclusively for foreigners. They can enter free of charge and enjoy free snacks,'' Kang Woo-hyon, Nami Island CEO, told The Korea Times.
Although Winter Sonata helped boost the island's profile as a tourist destination, the local government hopes to highlight the more artistic and cultural side of the island. Although it already attracts some 1,000 to 1,500 visitors daily, Kang hopes to increase the number.
``At first, the island became famous for Winter Sonata. … We want it to be seen as more. We want it to be a cultural attraction. Nami Island has changed so much. We have upgraded our facilities and hotel,'' Kang said.
The Foreigner's Free Festival will kick off Feb. 28 with an opening ceremony and unveiling of the new ferry, the Mermaid, which can carry 250 passengers, and a Korean classical music performance by the Jin-do County Folk Orchestra, a jazz concert by Invisible Worth Quartet and a performance by Chinese composer Liu Hong-jun.
Throughout the festival, there will be screenings of independent films and exhibitions showcasing ethnic musical instruments from around the world, as well as clay dolls and children's art works from Pakistan and China and foreign artists.
Children and adults can also take part in clay doll making and glass art workshops and learn creative ways to recycle.
March 8, the last day of the festival, will have even more entertainment and fun activities, such as an amateur singing contest, art workshop with foreign artists, handicraft classes and performances by the 8th U.S. Army military band and Korean indie rock bands.
The festival also marks the third anniversary of Nami Island's cultural independence. ``While economically these are challenging times, it is our hope that this festival will help revitalize the Asian cultural network and tourism in the region. During the festival, foreigners are invited to visit the island for free and help celebrate the third anniversary of the founding of the Naminara Republic,'' Kang said.
Admission is free for foreigners from Feb. 28-March 8. Regular admission fee is 6,000 won until March, and 8,000 won from April to December. Visit www.namisum.com or call Nami Island Seoul Center (02) 753-1245.
