| A cheongsa chorong (traditional Korean lantern) guides the way through Changgyeong Palace at dusk. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Bae Eun-joo
When the nationwide social distancing restrictions were lowered to Level 1 last week, people were quick to search for an escape from the prolonged confinement and boredom they've had to endure since the COVID-19 pandemic struck early this year.
Social distancing Level 1, the lowest of the three-tier restriction system, opened up doors to a lot of activities, as restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings were lifted as long as participants wear face masks and take other necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
| Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace is reflected in the moonlight. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
The Royal Culture Festival, which kicked off its month-long celebration Oct. 12, just in time as the social distancing rules were relaxed, sold out tickets in minutes to arts lovers eagerly awaiting the performances.
Performances and exhibitions were complemented by the colorful autumn foliage at Seoul's royal palaces and other related sites of the 1392-1910 Joseon kingdom -- Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong and Deoksu palaces as well as Jongmyo Shrine -- surpassing expectations of the festivalgoers.
| Visitors walk through the tunnel of light to enter Changgyeong Palace. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Anticipation for this year's festival was heightened as K-pop boy band BTS filmed for the “BTS Week” special on NBC's “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at Gyeongbok Palace earlier this month. All dressed up in chic hanbok-inspired outfits, the Billboard No. 1 stars performed “Idol” and “Mikrokosmos” at Geunjeongjeon Hall (National Treasure No. 223) and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion under the full moon.
And on Gyeonghoeru, the very same stage where BTS sang and danced, a musical based on the Korean folk tale of Shim Cheong was featured as a highlight performance of the Royal Culture Festival. Performed on a floating stage, the musical was worth every penny, dazzling audiences with its circus-like show full of aerial performances and magical backgrounds created by water projections.
| “Shim Cheong” the musical is the highlight of the Royal Culture Festival, staged at Gyeonghoeru in Gyeongbok Palace. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| Traditional symbols of longevity guide visitors through the darkness. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Divided into groups of 20-30 people for each entry, the Changgyeong Moonlight Tour welcomed visitors with a nighttime walk through a forest trail arched by a laser light tunnel. Guided by 10 traditional symbols of longevity -- sun, clouds, mountains, water, pine trees, turtles, deer, cranes, peaches and the herb of eternal youth – visitors can stroll down the luminescent pebble trail that leads to Chundangji Pond within the palace grounds. The depth and grandeur of the pond under the moonlight overwhelmed the visitors normally used to its serene and scenic views in the daytime.
| The folktale character Shim Cheong flies through the air suspended by a wire during the performance. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
The reputation of the Royal Culture Festival has been growing since it was first launched five years ago, drawing over 640,000 visitors last year. Usually celebrated in the spring to take advantage of the cherry blossoms, the postponement of this year's festival allowed the visitors to witness the utmost beauty of Korea's autumn foliage.