By Honorary Reporter Laarni Calpo from Philippines
Photos = Laarni Calpo

Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul on Nov. 19 hosts an event for the League of Legends World Championship.

On the vibrant evening of Nov. 19, I attended a cheering event for this year's League of Legends (LoL) World Championship at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. This was part of an esports festival from Nov. 16-19 hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The festivities included booths featuring e- and traditional Korean games, photo zones, merchandise sales and a live concert on Nov. 18 with performers such as Alan Walker, Nicki Taylor, (G)I-DLE, Mushvenom and FT Island.

Ddakjichigi is a traditional game of flipping folded paper tiles.

Eager to delve into the rich cultural tapestry, I took part in activities starting with ddakjichigi, a traditional game of flipping folded paper tiles popularized in the smash Netflix series "Squid Game." The camaraderie and friendly staff at the Korean experience booth added enjoyment to the festival. And a serendipitous victory at a claw machine got me a limited edition Seoul Edition 23 canvas bag.

Foreign visitors who completed a photo mission in the capital receive traditional snacks at the event.

The event also offered traditional cookies to foreign visitors who showed on their social media photos of the city's iconic landmarks including Gyeongbokgung Palace, N Seoul Tower and Dongdaemun Design Plaza. While time constraints prevented me from visiting Some Sevit, three glowing islands on the Hangang River, I got excited while seeing others complete this mission.

These are my four-cut photos and the colorful booth of the tourism campaign Visit Korea 2023-24.

The Visit Korea 2023-24 booth featured the "four-cut photo" trend, allowing me to receive a free souvenir. Adjacent booths had vibrant displays featuring the image of Cha Eun-woo, a celebrity and member of the K-pop boy band ASTRO who also serves as an honorary ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization.

This wall is filled with cheerful messages by fans to support their favorite esports team for this year's LoL World Championship in Seoul.

As I headed toward the main esports zone, I saw esports enthusiasts lining up for official merchandise, engaging in games and expressing support with cheerful messages for their favorite players. Heartfelt congratulations eventually echoed to the Korean team T1 for clinching its fourth LoL world title.

I also commend the efforts of traffic officers and emergency staff who ensured a seamless and secure event in downtown Seoul.

msjeon22@korea.kr