By Honorary Reporter Yuliia Shabala from Ukraine

Photos = Yuliia Shabala

The annual Jeonju International Film Festival, which ran this year from April 30 to May 9 in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province, brings together cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers and creative minds from around the world. This opportunity shows diverse cinema and opinions from the audience's perspective.

From left on May 4 are the entrance to the zone J Stage, main festival street and my first steps there.

The popularity of the festival made it difficult to get tickets for weekend screenings. Through persistence and regular checking on the ticket websites, I got a seat for a sneak preview of the romantic comedy "Tastefully Yours" starring Kang Ha-neul and Go Min-si. The affordable pricing policy had tickets not exceed KRW 10,000 each, making the event accessible to a wider audience.

Arriving on Jeonju's main film street on May 4, I saw staff preparing the main venues, particularly J Stage, for the day's events. Volunteers at every intersection proactively helped people navigate the zones and ensured safety.  

From left are the interior of the official merchandise store, festival postcards and badges, and film posters along the main street.

The official merchandise store proved to be a popular first stop. Even in the early hours, crowds had gathered inside with souvenirs rapidly selling out as staff worked to keep items stocked. Postcards and badges remained available for those seeking mementos.

The concert hall (left) of Chonbuk National University's Cultural Center hosts the pre-premiere of "Tastefully Yours"; director Park Dan-hee and the cast (center) talk at a Q&A; and they pose for a photo at the "Talk in Spring" event.

At the pre-premiere screening of "Tastefully Yours" at Chonbuk National University's Cultural Center, the audience responded enthusiastically throughout the event. The subsequent Q&A with the cast and director created connections between the actors and viewers.

Later at the "Talk in Spring" event on J Stage, the cast shared their favorite Jeonju dishes and concluded with a group photo with the audience. As the day ended and with a saxophone playing soft music in the background, volunteers captured selfies and visitors left with a trove of memories.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.