Busan is good

Harbor city Busan becomes festival town

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The 15th Busan Sea Festival is coming right up from Aug. 1 to 9. True to this year’s slogan “Into the Sea of Festival,” the southern portside city is truly chock full of fun with 39 programs in seven types.

 

There will be an opening ceremony, international events, maritime sports and other fun experiences along the beaches of Haeundae, Gwangalli, Songdo, Daedaepo, Songjeong and more.

 

Haeundae Beach will be the scene of a grand opening concert (Aug. 1) with performances by some top class Korean acts, including SG Wannabe, Coyote and No Brain.

 

Daedaepo Beach will feature a pop orchestra (Aug. 3) with a fantastic water fountain in the background. Gwangalli Beach will host the Korea Marine Literature Festival (Aug. 3-4) accompanied by a romantic night concert and Songdo, a 7080 Concert (Aug. 4) targeted at middle-aged vacationers.

 

Also in Haeundae there will be a Salsa Dance Festival (Aug. 5-6) organized by salsa dance clubs and a Musical Gala Concert (Aug. 8) with the participation of Korea’s top musical actors and actresses who have featured in shows like “Chicago,” “Mozart,” and “Miss Saigon.”

 

The Songjeong Beach for its part has prepared the Songjung Gugak Concert (Aug. 6) put on by the National Theater for Korean Traditional Performing Arts in Busan. Gugak refers to Korean traditional music. Busan will continue to entertain its visitors with an Open Music Concert (Aug. 9), M-net Super Concert (Aug. 6) and Green Music Concert (Aug. 7) all along its famous beaches.

 

 

Over 8,000 tourists will get to enjoy a ride on a cruiser-yacht (Aug. 2-8) at the Yachting Center in Haeundae, or a motor boat or banana boat joyride (Aug. 6-8) at both Yachting Centers on Haeundae and Songdo Beaches.

 

Another thing to look forward to at Haeundae Beach is the Ice Park (Aug.5). Ice sculptures carved into the shape of a bed, table and maze will cool the summer heat, if momentarily. There will be special performances by a professional ice carver with opportunities to take photos and other special events.

 

The Busan Promotion Market (Aug. 1-8) to advertise local specialties of the city – especially fishery products – will be also be opened for the next eight days.

 

As for international events, there are the Busan International Hip Hop Festival (Aug. 2-3) attended by 16 teams from nine countries and the Busan International Beach Skateboard Contest (Aug. 7-8) where you’ll see the fantastic movements of the skateboarders.

 

 

For an even bigger event there’s the 11th annual Busan International Rock Festival (Aug. 6-8) to rock the whole place. This year’s festival taking place at Daedaepo Beach will feature 23 brands from five nations including Firehouse (USA), The Haunted (Sweden) and Buhwal (Korea). There will also be an awards ceremony, autograph party for fans, rock plaza and souvenir sales.

 

Busan International Rock Festival: http://festival.busan.kr/ENG/Rock/01.asp (Eng)

Busan Sea Festival: http://festival.busan.kr/ENG/Sea/01.asp (Eng)

The Organizing Committee for Busan Culture and Tourism Festival:

http://festival.busan.kr/ENG/ (Eng)

 

Busan International Magic Festival

 

 

Use your illusion -- here’s the only festival in Korea dedicated to magic shows. The fifth Busan International Magic Festival (BIMF, Aug.4-8) will kick off with a series of free magic shows on the special stage at Haeundae Beach. After the opening ceremony on the beach, the rest of the main events will take place at BEXCO, the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center.

 

Over 100 magicians from 17 countries have gathered to present a magic gala show, take part in a magic competition, give lectures on brilliant magic tricks and observe the works of great magicians from the past.

 

There is Soma, the 2009 FISM World Champion in Stage Magic from Hungary, Shawn Farquhar the 2009 FISM World Champion in Close-up Magic and Haruo Shimada, a living legend among magicians in Asia from Japan. Look forward also to the witty performances of Korea's own Choi Hyun-woo or Charming Choi, Korea’s best close-up magician. Magic props and posters will be on display at the Dealer’s Booth.

 

The entry is free for opening day. For the main events ticket prices are 10,000 won per adult and 8,000 won per child. For the magic gala show it is 30,000 won for an R-seat and 25,000 won for an S-seat. For daytime gala shows it is 15,000 won for an R-seat and 10,000 won for an S-seat. Ticket reservation can be arranged at www.popbusan.com (Korean) or simply purchased on the spot at BEXCO.

 

 

BIMF: http://www.hibimf.org/intro.php (English, Chinese and Japanese)

BEXCO : http://www.bexco.co.kr/english/main/main.jsp (English)

 

The source of news : Korea.net