Seoul Fringe Festival facts for kids

The Seoul Fringe Festival is a fun performing arts festival held every year in Seoul, South Korea. It used to be called the Independent Art Festival before 2002. This festival is special because any artist can join, no matter their style! Visitors are invited to see and try out all sorts of new and exciting art. The festival started in 1998 and has grown a lot since then. It's now an international event, with artists from different countries in Asia. The Seoul Fringe Network helps organize the festival, and many groups like the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism support it.

History of the Festival

The First Festival (1998)

The very first festival was called the Independent Art Festival. Its slogan was "Open! Play! Twist!" People thought of it as a place for new and exciting underground art. It took place from August 25 to September 15, 1998, at Marronnier Park in the Deahangno area. More than 50,000 people visited!

The Second Festival (1999)

In 1999, the festival's slogan was "Millennium Prologue." The organizers wanted to connect the city center with other areas. It happened from September 17 to 26, 1999, at the Seoul Arts Center. About 30,000 people came to see the shows.

The Third Festival (2000)

The slogan for the third festival was "Variety Show." The goal was to make the festival a place for new ideas, different ways of doing things, and for people to connect. It was held from August 13 to September 3, 2000, in the Deahangno area. Around 50,000 visitors enjoyed the festival.

The Fourth Festival (2001)

The fourth festival used the slogan "Party all night long." It moved to the Hongdae area, which was already known for its cool indie culture and new art. This festival was held from September 7 to 23, 2001, and welcomed 80,000 visitors.

The Fifth Festival (2002)

This was a big year! The festival officially changed its name from the Independent Art Festival to the Seoul Fringe Festival. The organizers wanted everyone to know it would focus on exciting, forward-looking art from young Asian artists. This idea was inspired by the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It took place from May 25 to June 15, 2002, in the Hongdae area, and 100,000 people visited.

The Sixth Festival (2003)

In 2003, the festival became more organized. It brought together all the different "fringe" art styles into a clearer program. It was held from August 13 to September 7, 2003, in the Hongdae area, with 120,000 visitors.

The Seventh Festival (2004)

The slogan for 2004 was "Joy of Flowering Indie in Full Bloom." This showed how important independent culture had become to the festival. It happened from August 20 to September 5, 2004, in Hongdae, and 150,000 people attended.

The Eighth Festival (2005)

The Seoul Fringe Festival in 2005 focused on new and exciting independent artists from Asia. It was held from August 12 to 28, 2005, in the Hongdae area, and had 158,672 visitors.

The Ninth Festival (2006)

The ninth festival's slogan was "Indie-odyssey." It featured many different kinds of performances, mixing traditional and modern styles. You could see visual arts, music, plays, and even poems! It took place from August 13 to 27, 2006, in Hongdae, with 158,672 visitors.

The Tenth Festival (2007)

This year marked the festival's 10th anniversary! They created bigger spaces for artists and audiences to meet and share ideas. It was held from August 13 to 29, 2007, in the Hongdae area, and 153,501 people visited.

The Eleventh Festival (2008)

The festival continued to grow and improve its content. It connected more with the local art community and listened to feedback to make things better. It happened from August 14 to 30, 2008, in Hongdae, with 154,379 visitors.

The Twelfth Festival (2009)

To get more people to come, the festival used the slogan "Post Fringe Project." They created programs to make art more interactive and fun for visitors. The festival became even bigger and more engaging. It was held from August 13 to 29, 2009, in Hongdae, and had 160,000 visitors.

The Thirteenth Festival (2010)

This festival was held both indoors (in theaters, cafes, and galleries) and outdoors (on stages and in the streets). The organizers also worked with local businesses and people in the Hongdae area. It took place from August 12 to 28, 2010, in Hongdae, with 160,000 visitors.

The Fourteenth Festival (2011)

The theme for 2011 was "Artists and Spaces." It focused on helping artists, using spaces well, and showing current independent art. This was also the first time they tried an "Eco-Fringe Project," aiming to make the festival more friendly to the environment by reducing pollution and waste. It was held from August 11 to 27, 2011, in Hongdae and other parts of downtown Seoul, with 160,000 visitors.

The Fifteenth Festival (2012)

By 2012, the Seoul Fringe Festival was a very popular independent art event. It offered unique art and culture, supported many different artists, showed off new and young talents, and continued to be kind to the environment. It was held from August 15 to September 1, 2012, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium and other places in downtown Seoul, with a total of 160,000 visitors.