The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, under the direction of Kim Myeongjin, successfully organized a week-long cultural celebration called "Protect the Honmoon: A Chuseok & Hangeul Day Week-long Celebration" from October 6 through October 11. The event was designed to commemorate two of Korea's most significant holidays - Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival, and Hangeul Day, which honors the Korean alphabet. Drawing inspiration from the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters," the festival featured an innovative blend of traditional and contemporary Korean cultural elements that generated tremendous enthusiasm among participants.
The celebration was carefully crafted to highlight the core themes that define these important Korean holidays. Chuseok's emphasis on family bonds and gratitude was woven throughout the programming, while Hangeul Day's celebration of creativity and Korean identity provided another foundational element. The event organizers creatively reinterpreted the concept of "Honmoon" from the Netflix series, transforming it into a powerful metaphor for protecting and preserving Korea's rich cultural heritage and time-honored traditions. This thematic approach allowed participants to experience both the deep symbolism and enduring relevance of Korean culture in modern times.
The festival featured four distinct main programs, each designed to offer participants hands-on experience with different aspects of Korean culture. The "Threads of Fate" program centered around a Maedeup charm DIY activity, where participants learned to create traditional Korean knots. This workshop was directly inspired by the symbolic bracelet exchanged between the main characters Rumi and Jinu in "K-Pop Demon Hunters," allowing attendees to discover the intricate craftsmanship and deep symbolism embedded in Korean traditional arts.
"Golden Melodies" offered participants an immersive Gugak class experience that masterfully combined multiple elements of Korean traditional music. The program integrated gayageum playing (using the 12-string traditional Korean instrument), pansori narrative singing techniques, and traditional Korean dance movements. Instructors used familiar melodies from "K-Pop Demon Hunters" soundtrack to teach participants the sophisticated techniques, complex rhythms, and graceful movements that characterize Korean traditional music, making this ancient art form both engaging and accessible to modern audiences.
The "Brush Off the Demons" program focused on Hangeul calligraphy workshops that utilized Korean lyrics from the film's original soundtrack, including popular songs like "Golden" and "Soda Pop." Participants practiced the art of Korean calligraphy by carefully writing and reading these contemporary texts in Hangeul script. This approach allowed attendees to develop a deeper appreciation for the aesthetic beauty and artistic potential of the Korean alphabet while connecting with modern Korean pop culture.
The fourth program, "Kkachi Horangi (까치호랑이) Magpie-Tiger: Minhwa Workshop," explored the fascinating connections between characters from the Netflix film - specifically Duffy the tiger and Sussie the magpie - and Korea's traditional artistic motifs. Participants created their own minhwa, or Korean folk paintings, based on the classical Jakhodo design tradition. This hands-on artistic experience helped deepen participants' understanding of the rich symbolism, cultural meaning, and creative expression found in Korean traditional art forms.
The "Protect the Honmoon" celebration attracted a total of 177 participants throughout the week-long event. The festival's unique approach of harmonizing Korea's traditional cultural elements with contemporary popular culture generated significant interest and positive response from the Filipino community. Participants praised the innovative programming that made Korean cultural traditions accessible and relevant to modern audiences while maintaining respect for their historical significance.
Looking ahead, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines has announced plans to continue expanding cultural exchange opportunities and promoting the diversity and creativity of Korean culture in future programming. The success of this Netflix-inspired cultural celebration demonstrates the potential for creative approaches to cultural diplomacy that bridge traditional heritage with contemporary popular culture, creating meaningful connections between Korean culture and international audiences.
