2026 Seomjin River International Experimental Arts Festival (SIEAF)

About the festival

The 2026 Seomjin River International Experimental Arts Festival is an international experimental arts festival held in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, featuring the Seomjin River, Daehwang River, forests, rice fields, gardens, and other natural and living spaces of the region as its stage. Major programs include an archive exhibition, SIEAF colloquium, rice paddy fashion show, opening program 'WITH Goblin & Toad', movement healing workshops, oxygen concert, and flower parade. The SIEAF archive exhibition is a conceptual exhibition utilizing various records and rural-related objects from the 2025 Seomjin River International Experimental Arts Festival, serving as a preliminary program to welcome the 2026 SIEAF with the local community. The SIEAF colloquium is a discourse program held at Bitmaru-Center, focusing on themes such as the history and folklore of the Seomjin River, the role of rural leaders, and the creation of glocal rural culture through art, featuring presentations and discussions. Participants include Gokseong Cultural Center, rural researchers, local activists, and art professionals engaging in informal discussions for the coexistence of rural utopia and art utopia. The rice paddy fashion show is a rural-friendly program utilizing the rice paddy as a stage during the season when rice is ripening. It showcases costumes made from natural materials and inspired by local agricultural products, featuring participation from local residents, children, senior models, artists, and local cultural and artistic groups in a fashion show and performance. The opening program 'WITH Goblin & Toad' is a performance program held at the Apnok Recreational Area where the Seomjin River and Daehwang River converge. Based on the folklore of goblins and the imagery of toads passed down in Gokseong, it includes life rituals, goblin rituals, media art, world music, dance, butoh, traditional music, percussion, vocal music, installation art, and drone performances. The goblin rice collected through community participation is made into alcohol and rice cakes to be shared among artists, residents, and spectators, culminating in a modern artistic ritual performance expressing gratitude for the harvest and wishing for the well-being of the community. The oxygen concert and movement healing workshops are meditation and healing concerts held in the Ok and Old Forest. The movement healing workshops consist of body warming, body awareness, movements connecting with nature, and dances finding personal rhythms. The oxygen concert combines the natural sounds of the forest with acoustic performances, singing bowls, vocal music, baratan, performance art, meditation, and installation art, creating a program with an ecological orientation that resonates as part of nature. The flower parade is an art parade program where artists, residents, local clubs, and visitors participate together in the Seomjin River Fairy Tale Garden. It features a procession and performances utilizing costumes and props, as well as experiential programs and workshops centered around flowers, welcoming the audience with installation art, music, dance, juggling, harmonica, and singing bowls.

Source: Korea Tourism Organization · TourAPI · TourAPI 2737313