Sokcho Music Festival 2007.

Every summer the largest Korean music festival happens in our little Sokcho. In fact, it's going on right now, even as I write this post. The band performing this evening is Typhoon. The festival lasts for 5 days (today is day 4) and takes place at Expo Park near Cheongcho Lake (which is a 5-minute walk from our home). With many Koreans passing through to visit Sokcho's great beaches, Seoraksan National Park, and the festival, this town is a happenin' place. We've only been down to check things out once (the stage set up in front of Expo theater is actually quite impressive). In the past, this festival has been "fantastic" (my students tell me) and has drawn really big musicians (mostly pop and rock stars). Last year they had Super Junior (a really cheesy, but popular, boy band here)!
I love music festivals (outdoor music of any kind, for that matter). I grew up going to summer concerts at Adam's Park (Wheaton), Cantigny (Winfield), Grant Park (Chicago), and Ravinia (near Evanston). Of course to find out that the biggest music festival of Korea was dropping on my doorstep impressed me--er--until I actually went to it.
Perhaps this year the festival didn't receive as much funding as in previous years, because the names they drew aren't that big. The biggest I heard about were FT Island, Typhoon, and SG Wannabe (don't you love those names?!), and most of the kids I polled weren't too interested in any of them. Also, in the past the festival had a lot more to offer in terms of food and souvenir vendors. This year all I saw were tents selling yellow fleece festival vests (in SUMMER?!), dried squid (of course), maple bread, and one selling used clothes (the one appeal for me--I found some cargo pants and a striped tee for $5). There were also some kiddie craft tents, but that's it. No Coke stands. No ice cream vendors. No elephant ears. No funnel cakes :)
Also, when each band performs, they only play 2 or 3 songs. The festival starts at 9:00 each night and only goes until 11:00--only 2 hours! I'm used to the lesser bands performing during the day and being followed by the main attractions. It seems silly to spend all this time and money setting up a stage when it's only used for 2 hours a day.
It seems significant to mention that tomorrow is a holiday in Korea--Liberation Day. Tomorrow Korea will have enjoyed 62 years of freedom from Japanese rule. We have the day off, as most Koreans do, from work. When I asked my students how their countrymen observed this special day, they could only think of two ways: families put out the Korean flag, and there is a movie airing on TV about the historical event that people watch. That's it. No parades, no fireworks, no special food or music. No red bean pie :)
For all the constant complaining and hating on Japan by Koreans, I would think their liberation celebration would be a bit more jubilant. Anyway, we're using the day to explore some new beaches in Yangyang and have a barbeque--we don't need much of an excuse to celebrate!