▲ The 80th Avignon Festival
The Korea Arts Management Service announced that Korean performing arts works presented at the 80th Avignon Festival in France are receiving significant attention from local audiences and the media.
The 80th Avignon Festival, which opened in Avignon, France, on July 4, selected Korean as the official guest language this year and invited nine Korean performances across various genres, including theater and dance, to its official program.
The French daily newspaper Le Monde highlighted the special Korean language program in an article titled "Korea in Light and Shadow."
AFP also published an article covering the selection of Korean as the festival's guest language, noting that it features Korean performing arts that have rarely been introduced to European stages.
Currently, works such as "Muljil" directed by Lee Jin-yeop, "Island Story" directed by Lee Kyung-sung, "1°C" by choreographer Heo Sung-im, "Gin: Yeonhee Deconstruction Project I" directed by Lee In-bo, and "Cuckoo" and "History of Korean Theatre" directed by Jaha Koo are being performed at major festival venues, including the Cloître des Carmes and the Théâtre Saint-Joseph.
The Korea Arts Management Service, an official partner of the Avignon Festival, stated, "Long queues for on-site ticket purchases for each performance reflect the audience's high expectations for Korean works," adding, "Audiences who have experienced the Korean works have shown positive reactions to their unique identity and thematic consciousness."
A reading session based on author Han Kang's novel, "We Do Not Part - Bird," is scheduled for July 15, while Jaha Koo's play "Haribo Kimchi" and pansori performer Lee Ja-ram's "Snow, Snow, Snow" will be staged on July 11 and July 17, respectively.
Creators of the special Korean language program are also participating in the "Cafe des idees," a public talk program held during the festival, to discuss their works with experts from various fields.
Kim Jang-ho, President of the Korea Arts Management Service, said, "The attention poured into the special Korean language program demonstrates that the artistic value of Korean works is being recognized on the international stage," adding, "We will continue to support Korean performing arts by promoting systematic international cooperation projects."
(Photo courtesy of Korea Arts Management Service, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.