On March 5, the Confucius Institute at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies hosted an engaging cultural exchange event celebrating China’s Lantern Festival. The program, titled “Lanterns Illuminate Seoul,” brought together faculty, students, and Chinese language and culture enthusiasts from the Seoul region—approximately thirty participants in total. The event was led by Zuo Weigang and featured remarks from Yan Dong, Chinese Director of the Institute, and Dr. Yoon Beach, Korean Vice Director.
The festival program included interactive folk traditions, traditional Chinese musical performances, intangible cultural heritage displays, and a presentation of Chinese cities and regional culture. The city showcase presented participants with multimedia impressions of Chinese urban life, ecology, history, and contemporary development through promotional videos, city publications, and cultural heritage products.
Participants engaged in hands-on folk activities that conveyed cultural significance. Guests enthusiastically participated in the “Touhu” game, an ancient tossing activity whose name evokes the Chinese word for fortune, symbolizing prosperity and good wishes. A calligraphy station proved equally popular, with participants learning to brush characters associated with the festival theme—including “reunion,” “wholeness,” and “fortune”—and gaining insight into the artistic traditions of Chinese writing.
Traditional music served as a bridge for cross-cultural connection. Institute teachers in traditional hanfu performed on the guzheng (Chinese zither), while Korean music enthusiasts improvised on bamboo flutes, creating a harmonious blend that showcased the artistry of Chinese instrumental music.
Yan Dong noted that such cultural experiences provide meaningful opportunities for Korean audiences to engage directly with Chinese traditions while strengthening people-to-people connections between the two nations. The Institute plans to continue offering diverse cultural programs to deepen Sino-Korean exchange.
