The Songdo Baram Festival, Where Art Meets Nature

 

The Songdo Baram Festival

 Songdo International City in Incheon is famous for the biting winds from the sea. Residents jokingly call the city ‘Songberia’ which is a combination of ‘Songdo’ and ‘Siberia’. In Songdo, a special festival, using this local feature was held, called The Songdo Wind Festival.  To Koreans, the festival’s name takes on more meaning because the Korean word (baram) can mean ‘wind’ or ‘wish’. It is an annual event which is held around Children’s Day with a theme of children’s wishes.

 In this festival, people can enjoy a lot of activities and attractions, such as kite flying and hot-air balloons. The activities are using wind, and therefore, they fit with the festival’s theme. Also, Mujin-Lee, who is a famous singer with the song ‘Traffic Lights’ is invited to the festival. There were lots of people there and the response was great.

This festival was planned to be held on May 4 and 5, but due to the poor weather, it was held only on May 4. At the site of the festival, it was sunny and with sufficient wind, many children were having a good time with their parents flying kites, and so on. Especially, the big kite simulation was eye-catching.

 

Activities

There were lots of booths at the Songdo Baram Festival. Parents and Children were able to enjoy these activities and they increased public interest in this festival.

-Making Kite Booth

In this booth, children were able to make kites, which they could fly afterwards.

 

-Ecology Culture Education Program

In this booth, children could learn about migratory birds, such as spoonbills, often seen in Incheon. Children were able to make a frame of a spoonbill with their own hands as an activity as well.

 

-Yonsei Makerspace Program

 

 

 

Yonsei Makerspace, one of Yonsei University’s clubs, showed some ingenious creations. There was a robot that wrote time on a whiteboard, and some exhibitions inspired by Van Gogh’s work.

 

 

 

 

-Reminiscent Stationery store

In 'Reminiscent Stationery Store', people were able to get some giveaway after they participated in a lottery. It was a booth that could recall some parents’ memories, allowing them to enjoy the festival as well as their children. There were some toys such as Gulleongsoe, used in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

-Big Kite Simulation

 

 

 

People flew many traditional kites which were strung together on a line. The length was so long, and kites were so high that everyone at the festival could see the kites, even from far away.

 

 

 

 

Satisfaction of participants: An Interview with some parents

 To know the satisfaction level of the local people about the Songdo Baram Festival, we interviewed a citizen who was enjoying the festival with her son. Through this interview, we could collect an opinion and understand this festival’s success and its influence.

 

Q. What is the most inspiring part of this festival for you?

A. I think the long kite in the center was the most impressive; I've never seen anything like it before.

 

Q. Do you want to participate in this festival next year?

A. Yes, this festival is great because it allows us to make meaningful memories with our children.

 

 This interview showed us that local festivals such as the 2024 Songdo Baram Festival can contribute to making a bond between parents and children stronger, allowing them a precious opportunity to spend meaningful time together. In the ‘low birthrate’ era of Korea, fostering such environments for parents and children to make memories together will make a brighter future for the whole country.

 

 

By Staff Reporter Shin Jiho (2-6)

Yun Seohyeon (2-8)