Your guide to the UAE Korea Festival 2018: K-pop, art, food and more

From a mini K-pop concert to art exhibitions and the return of the Korean Film Festival, here's what you need to know about this year's event

Korean singer Wheesung will perform a mini K-pop concert in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Korea Festival 

The Korea Festival is back for another year. The free event is a chance to experience and learn more about Korean culture. This year, various programmes are scheduled until early November concluding with the return of Korean Film Festival. Also, as part of the Year of Zayed, there will be a special art exhibition and light show dedicated to him.

What's happening during this year's Korea Festival

Here are some of the highlights from the schedule:

Remembrance of Zayed, Lights in Consonance

This event will kick off the festival at 7pm on October 17 at the National Theatre in Abu Dhabi. The media art show celebrates the Year of Zayed by commemorating the story of Sheikh Zayed and showcasing the friendship between the UAE and Korea. The show will also feature images from both countries, including of famous landmarks the Grand Mosque and Namdaemun.

Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan

Also happening at the National Theatre on October 17 at 7pm, this event will feature activity booths and traditional Korean music and dance by the Jindo National Gugak Center. They will be coming with a repertoire that includes four performances representing different regions of Korea. The highlight of the show will be the folk dance Salpuri (which translates to 'wash away evil spirits'). There will also be a B-boy show by Expression Crew, which focuses on hip-hop inspired dance.

Traditional music by the Namwon Korean Music Orchestra

The Namwon Orchestra will bring performances of music and dance to the National Theatre on October 24 at 7pm. There will be six performances presented that celebrate the Year of Zayed. The performance 'Reign of Peace' will be aimed specifically at wishing prosperity for the royal families and for peaceful reign in the country. The festival attitude will be heightened with the performance 'Festival for Sogo (small drum)' which combines music and dance in a rapid pace.

Mini K-pop concert by Wheesung

The South Korean singer will also be performing after the orchestra on the night of October 24. The artist nicknamed the "R&B prince" broke onto the music scene as a backup dancer before transitioning to boy bands. However, it wasn't until he went solo that he found success with his first solo album Like A Movie in 2002, following that up with a successful second album It's Real. The 36-year-old is known for hits such as Heart Sore Story, Love is Dangerous and Insomnia.

The Korea Happiness Festival 2018

The three-day event will be held from November 1 to 3. The festival will be hosted at the Beach Rotana in Abu Dhabi and feature around 40 participants from well-known Korean medical institutes and cultural organisations. There will also be K-beauty stands as well as cultural activities such as glass portrait painting, traditional music, a Korean food cooking class, a Korean traditional craft workshop as well as a Kids Zone.

The Korean Film Festival 2018 along with Arab Cinema

The film festival will take place at Vox Cinemas in Yas Mall starting on November 7 to 10, featuring a mix of Korean and Arab films. The film schedule includes the 2017 Korean smash hit Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, Palestinian drama Wajib by Annmarie Jacir, the 2018 Korean drama Little Forest, and Emirati documentary Honey, Rain & Dust. Click here to see the full schedule.

Click to watch the trailer for Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds:

Year of Zayed UAE-Korean art exhibition

The exhibition will take place at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Centre and celebrates the founder of the UAE. Through varied mediums and styles, 10 artists from Korea and the UAE will unveil various artworks dedicated to Sheikh Zayed. The event will run from October 17 until November 14.

____________________________

Read more:

K-pop band BTS goes viral with UN plea to young people

WATCH: Why do people in the UAE love K-Pop so much?

Will BTS be the most successful k-pop band ever?

SM Town Live Dubai: 5 takeaways from my first K-pop concert

____________________________