GINUE Frined: CHA JINHWAN from Ansan Gyeonggi to Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Ukraine

 First, let me introduce myself. I am Cha Jinhwan, born in Ansan City, Korea and now living in Songdo, Incheon. I am currently studying to become an elementary school teacher at Gyeogin National University of Education. I will mainly post articles on my travels and introducing Korean culture to the world. Please feel free to read it and reply if you have any questions! :)

🌏 Introducing the Ansan Street Arts Festival: Korea’s Most Vibrant Open-Air Stage

 If you’re looking for a cultural experience that blends creativity, energy, and the unique charm of street performance, the Ansan Street Arts Festival (ASAF) in South Korea is an event you won’t want to miss. Held annually in the city of Ansan, this festival transforms everyday streets into a massive open-air theater where artists from all over the world gather to showcase their talents.

🎭 What Makes This Festival Special?

1) A Global Gathering of Artists

 

 ASAF brings together performers from numerous countries, offering everything from contemporary circus and physical theater to interactive installations, dance, puppetry, and experimental street art. The festival is a true celebration of diversity and artistic freedom.

2) Performances for Everyone

 Most shows take place outdoors and are completely free, making the festival accessible to locals, travelers, families, and art lovers alike. Whether you're into high-energy acrobatics or thought-provoking visual art, there's something here for every taste.

3) The City Becomes the Stage

 Instead of limiting performances to theaters, the festival integrates them into plazas, parks, alleyways, and everyday streets. This creates a dynamic environment where the audience becomes part of the art itself.

🌟 Why You Should Visit

• It's one of South Korea’s largest and most internationally recognized street arts festivals.

• You can experience cutting-edge performances from around the world in one place.

• The lively festival atmosphere is perfect for discovering new cultures, meeting people, and enjoying the city of Ansan.

✈️ Planning Your Visit

 ASAF usually takes place in late spring, and the area around Ansan Culture Square becomes the main festival zone. For visitors from abroad, Ansan is easily reachable from Seoul by subway or train, making it a convenient day trip or weekend getaway.

💀🌼 Celebrating Mexico’s Día de los Muertos in Korea: A Colorful Festival in Suncheon

 If you’re fascinated by cultural festivals that blend tradition, artistry, and heartfelt storytelling, you’ll love discovering how Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)—one of Mexico’s most iconic celebrations—came to life this year in Suncheon, South Korea. The city transformed into a vibrant mosaic of marigold yellow, painted skulls, and joyful remembrance, offering visitors a unique cross-cultural experience.

🌺 What Is Día de los Muertos?

 Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition honoring loved ones who have passed away. Far from being somber, it’s a celebration full of colors, music, food, and beautiful symbolism—believing that once a year, spirits return to be reunited with the living.

🎉 A Mexican Tradition Recreated in Suncheon

 This year, Suncheon embraced the spirit of the festival with artistic installations, community altars, traditional Mexican decorations, and lively performances. From hand-painted calavera (skull) face art to processions filled with music and dance, the event blended cultural authenticity with Korean creativity.

Visitors could experience:

• Ofrendas (altars) decorated with candles, flowers, and photos

• Traditional crafts inspired by Mexican folk art

• Live performances featuring dance, music, and storytelling

• Workshops introducing festival customs and symbolic meanings

• A warm, welcoming atmosphere that connected people across cultures

🌎 Why This Festival Stands Out

 The Suncheon edition of Día de los Muertos wasn’t just a reenactment—it was a cultural bridge. It introduced Korean locals and international visitors to the beauty of Mexican heritage, while showing how traditions can be shared, reinterpreted, and celebrated globally.

✨ A Festival of Memory, Art, and Unity

 Walking through the festival felt like stepping into a living artwork—vivid colors everywhere, music echoing through the air, and meaningful stories being shared. It was a reminder that honoring the past can be joyful, communal, and artistically inspiring.

🍶🌵 Pulque vs. Makgeolli: Mexico Meets Korea in a Glass

 If you enjoy pulque, you might find Korea’s milky rice wine, makgeolli, pleasantly familiar — almost like meeting a cloudy cousin on the other side of the world.

🌵 Pulque vibes

• Thick, slightly sour

• Fermented agave

• Deeply traditional and comforting

🍚 Makgeolli vibes

• Light, creamy, subtly sweet

• Fermented rice

• Easy to drink and great for sharing

 Different origins, different stories — yet both carry that same “cloudy & fermented” charm.

If you’re visiting Korea, add makgeolli to your list. 

A simple sip, a simple connection.