8th Cebu City Korea Day opens with film fest premiere tonight

CEBU, Philippines — Now on its eight year, the Cebu City Korea Day festivities are among the most sought-after seasons for Korean culture lovers in Cebu. Korean enthusiasts and Koreans who miss home can come together for the annual celebration fit for guests of all ages and from all walks of life.

Brought by the Cebu Korean Association alongside the Cebu Provincial Government, Cebu City Government and the support of the Korean Consulate Office in Cebu, the 8th Cebu City Korea Day is a strong reminder of the relationship between Cebu and South Korea.

To celebrate this flourishing bond, a series of events have been laid out. Kicking off with the 2018 Korean Film Festival which has been making rounds throughout the country from Manila, Baguio, Davao, and Iloilo throughout the month of September, it finally arrives in Cebu with a premiere set tonight at SM Cinema 5 bearing the theme of “time travel.”

“The Pirates” starring Son Ye Jin and Kim Nam Gil will be the festival’s opening film. The period adventure film is set on the eve of the founding of the Joseon Dynasty when a whale swallows the Ming Emperor’s Seal of State, meant to be brought to Joseon by envoys of China. A reward is then set for whosoever gets to retrieve the royal seal – sending a mountain of bandits led by Jang Sa-jung on its trail. He soon clashes with Yeo-wol, a female pirate captain, and adventure soon unfolds.

Four more Korean films set in various periods will be shown during the festival. Among them is “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time,” starring Choi Min-sik and Ha Jung-woo who portray former public officers Choi Ik-Hyun and Choi Hyung-Bae, respectively. The film depicts the clashes in the Busan underworld when the government declares its war against crime, as the duo of former officers sit in the center of a maelstrom that sweeps the city.

Kang Haneul takes center stage on the biopic “DONGJU: The Portrait of a Poet.” The film follows the life of poet Yun Dong-Ju and his eventual imprisonment by the Japanese government for being involved in the Korean independence movement.

“Assassination,” starring Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Kung-jae, and Hang Jung-woo, is about an assassination plot to take out a pro-Japanese group in the1930’s. The assassination team, led by deadly sniper An Ok-Yoon who takes on the mission because of her strong desire to see the independence of Korea, might be in for a surprise as the opposition hires contract killers Hawaiian Pistol and Younggam to hunt those who hunt them.

“Warriors of the Dawn,” a historical drama starring Lee Jung Jae, Yeo Jin Goo, and Kim Mu Yeol centers on Prince Gwanghae (Yeo Jin Goo) who is left to lead the royal court and face their enemies with the aid of proxy leaders and soldiers consisting of those who are paid to serve the military in behalf of others, after King Seonjo escapes to the Ming Empire to avoid invading Japanese forces.

The 2018 Korean Festival resumes on Sept. 29-30 at SM City Cebu Cinema 5. Admission is free and on a first come first serve policy.

For those who would like to see traditional Korean items and products, they can visit the Korean Cultural Exhibit and Korean Culture Bazaar which will run from Sept. 28-Sept. 30. Located at the SM Main Mall Atrium D at the lower ground floor, the Korean Bazaar is organized by the Korean Women’s Association of Cebu.

A treasure trove of must-trys and must-haves, the Korean Culture Exhibit consists of four areas: the Experience Area, the Exhibition Area, the Free Food Tasting Area, and the Selling Area. Throughout the exhibit, guests can drop by the Experience Area and see how “tal” key chains and Korean traditional dessert “in jul mi” are made, wear the Korean traditional clothing “hanbok” for a fee ranging from P80 to P100, or try their hand at making and decorating their own “booche,” known as the traditional Korean fan.

The Exhibition Area, meanwhile, will feature all sorts of Korean paper crafts known as “hanji,” national costumes and accessories, a glimpse of Korean traditional musical instruments like the kkwaenggari, sori-buk, janggo, and jing, as well as learn about the daily lives of ancient Koreans.

If you’re right on time, you can catch free Korean food at the Cultural Exhibit. Giving out free food every hour (11 a.m. til 12 noon, and between 4 to 6 p.m.), the Free Food Tasting Area will share food like Korean rice cake tteok, the Korean side dish kimchi, Korean noodles known as japchae, bulgogi or meat, and Korean rice wine to guests.

Visitors can commemorate their adventure at the Selling Area where they can find Korean traditional pouches, bags, accessories, and even cosmetic products like sunscreen and face masks.

But for foodies whose cravings cannot be satisfied by free taste alone, the Korean Food Festival is a slice of the good life. Running from Sept.-28-Sept. 30, the Korean Food Festival is located at the SM V-Hire Terminal Open Parking Area. This little haven of the Korean gastronomic experience sells delicacies like bulgogi rice, bibimpap, kimchi, guksu, topoki, and japchae.

Korean Pop Music fans in Cebu will also gather once more as the search for the 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star comes to a close. The event, meant to showcase the talents of K-Pop fans in Cebu, started with more than 130 online submissions of sing and dance videos. These applicants were cut to 80 and were then trimmed down to 40 following the auditions at the ICON Club in Mabolo. From 40, only 25 remained after the semis last Sept. 1.

On Sept. 28, these 25 units of cover artists will perform, embodying their favorite K-pop acts at the SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium for a chance to be hailed as the 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star.

The Cebu Korean Association will also be bringing in special guests who will be performing at the Cebu City Korea Day Main Event on Sept. 29 at the Northwing Atrium. Following their tradition of bringing Korean talents Cebu, the Cebu Korean Association will bring in K-Pop idol group Astin. Set to debut on October, Astin members Mir Jung-hoon, Yoo Chan, Elvin, Jin Kyu, Theo, and Seung-jun will regale the Cebuano crowd on Sept. 28 and 29. All-female “Nanta” group TA:POS will also be performing for the Cebuano audience, enchanting the crowd with the beat of their drums.