By Hong Angie
Photos = Seoul Metropolitan Government

Culture and arts and interactive events will be held in Seoul over the Seollal (Lunar New Year) holidays.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Feb. 12 announced that the four royal palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung, Hanok (traditional home) villages, museums, art galleries and parks will remain open from Feb. 14-18, with programs also arranged.

Seollal events featuring seasonal customs will be held from Feb. 16-18 in Namsangol Hanok Village and Unhyeongung Royal Residence in Seoul. Namsangol will host traditional performing arts, taekwondo demonstrations, hoop rolling and making soap shaped like horses.

Visitors to Unhyeongung can try the traditional games yunnori (four-stick board game) and tuho (pitch-pot) as well as archery and make a bokjumeoni (lucky pouch) with a red horse and traditional lanterns.

Leading museums in Seoul will hold events on the same theme. The Seoul Museum of History on Feb. 18 will hold pansori (solo lyrical opera) busking from noon to 4 p.m. as well as traditional games and clothing from around the world. Other programs include pounding tteok (rice cake) and making bokjumeoni and doorbell charms to ward off evil spirits.

Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music will host traditional games from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Feb. 14-18. Feb. 16 will see a traditional ensemble perform and a calligraphy session for Seollal greetings.

The Seoul Baekje Museum on Feb. 18 will hold the traditional performing arts samulnori (traditional percussion music) and gilnori (festive street parade), programs for making bokjori (traditional rice strainers) and gaori kites shaped like a stingray or a flatfish, and activities featuring the traditional game jegichagi (kicking a shuttlecock) and archery.

Official posters for Seollal (Lunar New Year) events at Seoul Museum of History and Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music

Wish mobile making, traditional game areas and ecology quizzes will be held at six parks including Seoul Forest and World Cup Park.

Seoul Botanic Garden will hold a contemporary art exhibition themed on the relationship between nature and humans and hold traditional folk games.

"To mark the Year of the Red Horse, we have prepared culture and art programs, exhibitions and interactive programs to allow people to enjoy a more vibrant and richer Seollal holiday," Seoul Deputy Mayor Kim Tae-hee said. "We hope that this holiday season is a special memory for both residents and tourists in Seoul."

shong9412@korea.kr