On 20 – 21 April 2019, the Royal Thai Embassy and Thai government agencies in the Republic of Korea, Thai AirAsia X and Thai Airway International in collaboration with Seoul Metropolitan Government and Cheonggyecheon Administration Office, Seoul Facilities Corporation, launched Thai Festival 2019 or “So Thai Festival” at Cheonggye Plaza.

On 20 April 2019, His Excellency Mr. Singtong Lapisatepun, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Mr. Yim Geun-hyeong, Ambassador for International Relations, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Mr. Nadda Buranasiri, Co-Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia X presided over the opening ceremony of the Thai Festival 2019. Ambassadors and spouses and embassies’ representatives, as well as Friends of Thailand participants attended the ceremony.

In his welcoming remarks, His Excellency Mr. Singtong Lapisatepun, Ambassador of Thailand, reflected that Thai Festival started in 2015 at Cheonggye Plaza and since then organised annually, focused on creating awareness and promote friendly relationship between Thailand and the Republic of Korea, Thai tourism and Thai products, as well as Thailand’s potential for economic partnership with the Republic of Korea. Over the past 4 years, Thai Festival has increasingly become more popular amongst Koreans and foreigners. Last year, there were over 31,500 people attended the festival. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of culture and people to people connections between Thailand and the Republic of Korea, which continue to be at their strongest, as people from both countries are familiar with one another and look upon each other in a positive light. These fundamental leads to unlimited opportunities for events like Thai Festival to further elevate these cultural and people to people connections.

By building on the success from previous Thai Festivals, the 5^th Thai Festival is called “So Thai Festival” with Slogan: Uniqueness, Creativity and Beyond. “So Thai” is a phrase that refers to the recognition of identity for what is Thai. Yet the definitions are not limited to only traditional sense but also expands to cover Thai innovations and modern culture as well. This year’s Thai Festival’s theme focuses on the cultural trends in Thai Modern Society, portraying contemporary Thai life style, creative ideas and innovations in Thailand, combining with the lively shades of the beauty of Traditional Thai culture.

Thai Festival 2019’s poster, designed by Mr. Kotchawat Buranapinyo, Young Thai Artist, expresses the transformation of traditional Thai patterns to unique contemporary patterns, reflecting the joint contemporary and modern theme of the festival and the meeting point of Thai and Korean cultures, Thai Food, Thai Products, performances and activities. The Royal Thai Embassy also invited Thai Contemporary artists, namely Mr. Alex Face, Mr. Bharkbhoom Charoenpanich from Khram Factory to exhibit their works

The Festival had 31 booths, which were Thai Restaurants, Thai food Products and Thai Product Designers; Thai Tourism and Thai Artists; and Thai Government Agencies. Entertainments, Music and performances well provided by DJ Machina, for Thai electronic dance music; Praewaa GG, Kalasin Province Pop Music Girls Group and Banyen Rakkaen, Thai Folklore songstress and Tanis Sriglindee, Thai National Artist and famous Thai flautist, including Thai stage performances by Kaan Show and songs from Thai actors from Thailand’s Channel 7HD.

For over 2 days, an estimate of 45,000 persons attended the Thai Festival 2019.

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