Gwangju Together Day 2024

Global Harmony Encompasses Everyone!

By Park Yeonju

Spinning the globe could leave you facing numerous countries to the point that you lose count. It’s hard to experience in one lifetime all the things these countries have to offer, but what if they all got together? It’s possible if you come to Gwangju Together Day, the city’s highlighted event in the first half of 2024. On May 25, 2024, the 17th Gwangju Together Day was held at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall, hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City and co-organized by the Gwangju International Residents Center and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation.

Gwangju Together Day, already in its 17th year, is a legal anniversary designated in 2007 to create a social environment for citizens and foreigners in Korea to live together while respecting each other’s cultures and traditions. The opening ceremony was held in the conference room of Gwangju City Hall at 10 o’clock. In Mayor Kang Gi-jung’s opening address, he announced the start of the 17th event and presented commendations to people of merit.

This year’s Together Day was a meaningful day for the Gwangju International Center (GIC) in particular, as they received the Prime Minister’s Commendation in recognition of their long-term contributions to the field of settlement support and social integration for foreigners in Korea. Founded in 1999, the GIC is the first international exchange center to be organized in the country. They have established a global communication center where migrants in Gwangju City and Jeollanam-do can seek assistance and participate in activities. It is an organization that has been at the forefront of helping Gwangju grow into a globally inclusive city.

The pleasant ceremony was followed by the World Music Performance. The first performance was by an Uzbek band that treated the audience with cheerful guitar riffs and their sweet voices. The second performance was a Philippines Traditional Dance by the Gwangju-Jeonnam Filipino community. Their movements combined with traditional costumes animated the stage and completely fascinated the viewers.

About an hour after the ceremony started, booth operation began in earnest. On the first floor of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council building, a lot of fun booths were waiting for Gwangju citizens and foreigners. “What’s this?” “It smells delicious!” The first place that attracted many people was the Global Foods Zone. As the Korean saying goes, “The easiest way to refresh your mind and spirit is through your stomach.” Food always brings people together and gives joy to our daily lives. The pleasure will surely double if we go beyond what we usually eat to experience something new.

A variety of flavors could be found throughout the Global Food Zone, ranging from delights offered by Romania, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Ethiopia, India, Canada, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Among the eight countries’ booths, the Canadian dessert booth was the most successful in stopping people in their tracks. Bustling with liveliness, the booth staffer welcomed everyone with a bright smile. Their roasted brownies, marshmallow biscoff, cookie bars, and other homemade desserts gifted all with a daily dose of sweetness.

The star of the Vietnamese booth was their spring rolls, where shrimp and chicken met with crisp vegetables. Visitors could eat spring rolls made on the spot with fresh ingredients. One could dip them in chili sauce and take a bite for an authentic Vietnamese experience. Five countries participated in the Global Culture Zone: Ethiopia, China, India, Kenya, and Vietnam. Among them, a traditional Indian clothes experience booth stood out. Visitors could wear traditional Indian women’s clothing and place a decorative red mark on their forehead. The bindi is said to have religious meaning for the community and serves as a beauty mark for women. If even for just a short moment, visitors were able to take time to understand diverse religious beliefs and a country’s beauty just by trying on their traditional clothes.

The international support organizations booths were also set up with the purpose of supporting the daily lives of foreigners. Institutions that can work hand-in-hand with foreigners during their time of need, such as the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency, Family Center, Association of Migrant Women, and the Institute for Public Health and Equity also contributed to Gwangju Together Day. At the Gwangju Foreign Student Supporters’ booth, there were bead bracelet- and necklace-making activities that were especially popular among children. This provided them with a meaningful experience making accessories independently alongside international students from various countries.

At the Cultural Diversity Organizations section, institutions acting as the pillars of Gwangju’s culture, such as the Gwangju Independent Film Theater, Gwangju FM, and independent bookstores, also formed promotional booths. A photo booth was set up where people could dress in costumes from around the world and take instant photos. Fitted with photo frames made directly by the GIC, many captured their own Gwangju Together moments in a variety of outfits. Mayor Kang Gi-jung also took the opportunity to capture his memories of the day in a four-frame photo.

On the same day, Gwangju Citizens’ Day was also commemorated, and many people enjoyed picnics on the lawn of Gwangju City Hall. The Gwangju International Residents Center lent mats with “Gwangju” written on them for free to help citizens enjoy the event. Gwangju Together Day did not miss the opportunity to be eco-friendly. Food purchased at the Global Food Zone was served on stainless steel trays and with reusable cups. By using reusable utensils rather than its disposable ones, everyone could practice environmental protection while pleasantly enjoying the festival. Several small supporting events were held as well, enriching the festivities of the day. One of them was a plastic toothpaste squeezer giveaway, where visitors can exchange five bottle caps for the gift after visiting the booths.

Gwangju Together Day has brought the world’s colorful charms together for 17 years as a place for global harmony, where Gwangju citizens and foreign residents alike can gather. As if showing its enthusiasm for the festival, the sky was clear and laughter was continuously heard throughout the day. The festival provides us with not just a chance to have fun but to also deeply understand the world’s diverse culture and flavors. I hope that the event’s success created unforgettable memories of May 2024 for everyone. Let’s look forward to next year’s festival, where everyone can come together once more!