Anseong City Elevates Namsadang Baudeogi Festival to a Global Cultural Event

Anseong City Welcomes Steady Stream of Domestic and International Visitors on Second Day of Festival
Embassy Officials from Five Countries Including Italy Invited, Expanding International Cultural Exchange
Enhanced Safety Measures with Installat

On the second day of the 2026 Anseong Matchum Namsadang Baudeogi Festival, held on October 3, 2026, domestic and international visitors continued to flock to the event, establishing it as a truly global cultural festival.

Mayor Bora Kim of Anseong is taking a commemorative photo with representatives from various embassies who visited the '2026 Anseong Matchum Namsadang Baudeogi Festival' on the 2nd. From left, representatives from the Philippines and Costa Rica embassies, Mayor Kim, the representative from the Sri Lanka embassy, and two representatives from the Cambodia embassy. Provided by Anseong City

This year, the festival hosted officials from numerous embassies, further enhancing its status as a platform for international cultural exchange. On the opening day, October 2, representatives from the embassies of Italy, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and the Philippines visited the venue, enjoyed traditional performances such as Namsadang Nori, and purchased Anseong traditional brassware, gaining firsthand experience of Anseong’s unique cultural heritage.

Building on this visit, Anseong City plans to expand cultural exchanges between countries and actively promote the globalization of Namsadang Nori.

The festival features the "World Heritage Masterclass," where guests can experience UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Namsadang Nori as well as traditional performances from around the world every day at the venue.

The joint stage presented by the UNESCO-recognized Namsadang Nori troupe and five performing arts groups from Thailand, India, Malaysia, Egypt, and Taiwan—affiliated with the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF)—adds depth to the festival’s cultural diversity and cross-cultural interactions.

Embassy officials are visiting the booth to purchase traditional brassware. Provided by Anseong City

The "World Heritage Masterclass" is held daily at the festival site, featuring performances from the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Namsadang Nori troupe and five CIOFF-affiliated groups from Thailand, India, Malaysia, Egypt, and Taiwan showcasing their traditional arts.

Convenience services for international visitors have also been greatly enhanced.

Multilingual signboards are installed throughout the venue, with interpretation services offered in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Vietnamese. Additionally, live broadcasts through the "Global Studio" on YouTube share the festival’s vibrant atmosphere with audiences worldwide.

Anseong Mayor Bora Kim stated, "I hope that this visit from embassy representatives leads to lasting ties with various nations and expands into broader cultural and artistic exchanges. Moving forward, we will continue developing a sustainable global festival where people around the world can enjoy and appreciate each other’s cultures."

Bora Kim, Mayor of Anseong City, is posing for a commemorative photo with Emilia Gatto, the Italian Ambassador to Korea. Provided by Anseong City

Meanwhile, Anseong City has made visitor and performer safety its top priority and has stepped up safety management. Notably, although safety mats were not previously used for tightrope walking performances due to tradition and performance style, the city has introduced them as an exception this year. On the first day of the festival, one performer fell during a tightrope act and, after a thorough examination at a university hospital, was found to have no serious injuries and is currently resting.

Anseong City intends to ensure the safe operation of the remainder of the festival by conducting rigorous inspections of all equipment and facilities before performances, deploying additional on-site safety personnel, and fully re-examining emergency response systems.

A festival official commented, "We will prioritize the safety of both audiences and performers by closely monitoring all potential risks at the venue and strictly adhering to and reinforcing safety protocols for each performance and event."

Anseong City Strengthens Safety Management of Baudeogi Festival Performance Venue. Provided by Anseong City.

The 2026 Anseong Matchum Namsadang Baudeogi Festival will continue through October 5 at Anseong Matchum Land and along the Anseongcheon area.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.