By Honorary Reporter Wendy Maguudze from Zimbabwe
Photos = Wendy Maguudze

The 2025 K-Festival in Bulawayo, the No. 2 city in Zimbabwe, on Sept. 12 was hosted by the Korean Embassy in Harare, attracting both Hallyu (Korean Wave) enthusiasts and general visitors.

Activities featured Korean traditions like Hanji (traditional paper) craft, with visitors making paper fans from Korean mulberry paper. They also tried seoye (traditional calligraphy), painting Hangeul characters while learning about its history.

Trying seoye 

Traditional games were also played including ddakji (paper tile flipping), whose popularity has exploded since its appearance on the Netflix show "Squid Game." Booths also offered handmade crafts and cultural goods.

On the left is a modern take on the traditional game yunnori and on the right is a sales booth for a ceramic table setting set and handmade tea forks and spoons made of brass. 

The highlight of the festival was performing arts showcasing Korean heritage. Starting things off was a live seoye performance in which an artist painted Hangeul characters with graceful brushstrokes.

Next was a pansori (traditional lyrical opera) performance and a demonstration of taekwondo.

 
The energy peaked with K-pop dance on stage featuring the cover group Salt and Light, who performed songs from "KPop Demon Hunters" and closed with BLACKPINK's "Jump."  Ending the event was "Gangnam Style," which had everyone singing and dancing along.

Afterward, Ambassador Park Jae Kyung mingled with the attendees, who mentioned growing interest in Korean culture in Zimbabwe and their hope for more events like this.

Group photo with Ambassador Park Jae Kyung and his wife

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article was 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.