The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (Director Kim Myeongjin) successfully hosted the cultural week event "Protect the Honmoon: A Chuseok & Hangeul Day Week-long Celebration" from October 6 (Mon) to 11 (Sat), to commemorate Korea’s representative holidays, Chuseok and Hangeul Day. Inspired by the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, the event featured a series of programs that blended traditional and contemporary Korean culture, receiving an enthusiastic response from participants.

▲ "Protect the Honmoon: A Chuseok & Hangeul Day Week-long Celebration" Poster

Bridging Tradition and Modern Culture

The celebration highlighted the themes of family and gratitude embodied in Chuseok, as well as the creativity and identity symbolized by Hangeul Day. It also reinterpreted the concept of “Honmoon” from KPop Demon Hunters, conveying the message that protecting the Honmoon represents safeguarding Korea’s culture and traditions. Through each program, participants experienced both the symbolism and the enduring value of Korean culture.

Program Highlights

Throughout the week, four main programs Threads of Fate, Golden Melodies, Brush Off the Demons, and Magpie-Tiger Minhwa Workshop were offered to the public.

Threads of Fate: Maedeup Charm DIY Activity

Inspired by the bracelet exchanged between the main characters Rumi and Jinu in KPop Demon Hunters, this activity encouraged participants to craft their own traditional Korean knots, showcasing the delicacy and symbolism of Korean craftsmanship.

▲ Threads of Fate: Maedeup Charm DIY Activity

Golden Melodies: Gugak Class

This class combined gayageum (12-string instrument), pansori (narrative singing), and traditional dance to reinterpret songs featured in KPop Demon Hunters. Participants learned the techniques, rhythms and movements of Korean traditional music through familiar melodies, discovering its charm in an engaging and accesible way.

▲ Golden Melodies: Gugak Class

Brush Off the Demons: Hangeul Calligraphy Workshop

Using Korean lyrics from the film’s original soundtracks such as Golden and Soda Pop, participants practiced calligraphy by writing and reading the text in Hangeul, deepening their appreciation for the aesthetic beauty of the Korean alphabet.

▲ Brush Off the Demons: Hangeul Calligraphy Workshop

Kkachi Horangi (까치호랑이) Magpie-Tiger: Minhwa Workshop

This program explored the connection between the film’s characters - Duffy the tiger and Sussie the magpie - and Korea’s traditional art motifs. Participants created their own minhwa (folk paintings) based on the Jakhodo design, deepening their understanding of the symbolism and creativity in Korean traditional art.

▲ Kkachi Horangi Magpie-Tiger: Minhwa Workshop

A total of 177 people participated in “Protect the Honmoon”, which featured programs that harmonized Korea’s traditional and contemporary cultures and attracted great interest from participants. The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines will continue to expand opportunities for cultural exchange and promote the diversity and creativity of Korean culture in the years ahead.