The World Cup Park was established on Nanjido, whose name means the island of "abundant orchids and gromwells." The island was once a wonderful ecosystem where flowers flourished season in and season out, and migrant birds came to visit every year.Unfortunately, Nanjido was used as a landfill site between 1978 and 1993 and the once beautiful ecosystem became a smelly place full of trash and sludge. However, the Landfill Recovery Project began in 1996, once again restoring life to the barren wasteland. Plants and animals returned to the area and it was christened the World Cup Park in May 2002. Each of the five divisions of the World Cup Park (Pyounghwa Park, Haneul Park, Noeul Park, Nanjicheon Park, and Nanji Hangang Park) represents an aspect of the radical transformation of Nanjido back into an ecological haven.Haneul Park (Sky Park) is full of lush Eulalia and home to the Seoul Eulalia Festival, held every year in October when the grass is in bloom. Although the park is open to visitors during the daytime, the park is usually closed at night to reduce the negative effects of visitors on the native plants and animals. During the festival, however, the park remains open until 10 p.m. and the entire grounds are aglow with light. Visitors not only get a beautiful view of the city lights and Hangang River, but can also enjoy the variety of events and performances offered during the festival period.

‘Saturday Premium Performance’ takes place 50 times this year from January 7 through December 29. Seventeen different kinds of programs consisting of traditional music, dance, and singing performances will be performed throughout the year. Nine programs are suitable for people who have never experienced Korean traditional performing arts before. They consist of court music, solo performances, solo court music performances, traditional dance, folk dance, and play. These nine programs will be staged 38 times total.There will also be six masters’ programs comprised of performances of the maestros of Gugak (Korean traditional music), traditional dance, and play. Each program will be performed only once. Two intangible cultural asset programs also will be performed, consisting of Korean intangible cultural assets that have been added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List. They will be performed three times each.Whether you are new to Gugak or an avid lover of Gugak, the Saturday Premium Performance offers performances for everyone.

The year 2013 marks the 18th anniversary of the Seoul Friendship Fair. This year’s festival will be attended by 300 performance teams from sister cities from over 14 different countries as well as teams from foreign embassies, tour agencies, and cultural centers from over 60 countries. A wide spectrum of unique culture events will be taking place, including traditional performances and sampling of cuisine from around the world. Other events include traditional costume shows and a traditional folk art exhibition.

B-Boy City in Seoul “Kung” is a non-verbal musical performance that tells the story of the dance group Gorilla Crew. The main character, Hochan, anguishes about the stark reality he is facing as a dancer. Through dynamic performances, the B-boys Hyeonmun, Donghui and Seongtaek relate their agony, happiness, and passion for dancing.Gorilla Crew had won previous acclaim as a talented dancing team for well-known performances such as “Ballerina Who Loves B-boy” and “Return.” The performance's energizing mix of dance techniques is certain to delight audiences.*Note: Due to the MERS outbreak, some performances will be discontinued until August, 2015; please call to confirm.

Jongmyodaeje (종묘대제), Korea’s Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite, is a traditional ritual that has been recognized with many important designations. It is a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 56 (Jongmyo Jerye), and Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 (Jongmyo Jeryeak). The ritual is held yearly on the first Sunday of May. It begins with eogahaengnyeol (어가행렬), the fabulous royal parade dating from the Joseon Dynasy, which is truly a sight to behold as it moves through the modern city. Over 1,200 people proceed from Gyeongbokgung Palace, pass through downtown Seoul via Sejongro, Jongro 1, 2, and 3-ga, and finally arrive at Jongmyo.Jongmyo Daeje originated as a royal ancestral ritual to honor the past kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. During the Joseon era, the ritual was held five times a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter, and December) until it was abolished by Japanese colonial rule. In 1969, Jongmyo Daeje was reinstated and has been held every year since in May.Jongmyo Shrine, the destination of the procession, was the setting of ceremonial rituals during the Joseon Dynasty. Originally, Jongmyo only referred to Jeongjeon (Main Hall) where the memorial tablets of Joseon’s reigning kings and queens are enshrined. Today, however, Jongmyo also encompasses Yeongnyeongjeon (Hall of Eternal Peace) where the tablets of posthumous kings and queens are enshrined and Gongsindang (Hall of Meritorious Subjects) where the tablets of esteemed ministers of the state are kept.To participate in the ceremonial rite, the kings of Joseon traveled to Jongmyo Shrine with princes and subjects in the eogahaengnyeol royal procession. Today, its reenactment features a king mounted on a royal palanquin and accompanied by civil and military officials and guards that stretch to the front and rear of the procession.The Jeongjeon Jehyang rituals are held according to Confucian tenets, largely consisting of the greeting, serving, and bidding farewell to the spirits. Each procedure is accompanied with Jongmyo Jeryeak, a ritual music performance played with pyeongyeong, bokgo and other traditional instruments, and parilmu, a dance performed by 64 female dancers.Jongmyo Jeryeak, Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1, was created under King Sejong the Great and adopted by King Sejo. The name refers to the entire series of music and dance performed during the Jongmyo rituals. Distinct music is played for each procedure of the Jongmyo Jerye rituals with accompanying songs called Jongmyoakjang and Ilmu dances called botaepyeongjimu and jeongdaeeopjimu.

Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (SICAF) is one of major animated film festivals in the nation. It is held throughout Seoul Square, Myeong-dong Station area, and Seoul Animation. The festival introduces various exhibitions by reinterpreting and rediscovering animation and comics through various exhibitions, animation movie festivals and other various events.

The Seoul Performing Arts Festival is held annually at Arko Arts Theater & Daehangno Arts Theater to create a world-class level of performance arts in one location.

Seoul Photo Festival is held with the participation of citizens of Seoul-si, gathering their individual pictures to present the memory of picnic areas and reminding us of what family means. This special exhibition shows a part of leisure culture in the modern era, classified by period and location.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) proudly presents R-16 Korea, an international b-boy championship event, to be held at Seoul Olympic Park.The World B-boy Masters Championships (R-16) is a series of competitions where world-class b-boy groups (selected through regional preliminaries overseas and a national competition in Korea) compete for the title of the world's top b-boy group. “R” in the official title comes from “Respect.”Started in 2007 as an experimental performance event, the program has continued to gain international participation and has grown in scale. R-16 KOREA has become one of KTO's largest hosted performances, and aims to attract tourists from around the world.

Korean World Travel Fair, Korea’s longest and most reliable travel fair, will take place. The fair aims to actively communicate new tour ideas, tour items, and tourism information from nearly 500 participating companies from 60 different nations. As part of the fair, various events including the promotion of tour items and destinations, exhibitions of tourism souvenirs, tourism seminars and world folk performances will take place.