In conjunction with the World Cup Finals, a series of international cultural festivals will take place, featuring countries participating in the global football gala.

The CIOFF International Folk Festival, which began last May 29 will continue until June 9 with folk music and dancing from 14 countries, including artists from Poland, the US, Portugal, Senegal, Japan, China, France and Brazil among others at the National Theater of Korea every day at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm, and 7:30pm, and at the Korea Folk Village. Some 26 intangible cultural assets will also participate, showing off the Bongsan Mask Dance and Bukcheong Lion Play among others.

For more information call (02) 773-9960

The 6th Suwon, Hwaseong Fortress International Theater Festival will open on June 2 with the play, "Solomon Grundy's Circus" performed by the international Bread and Puppet Theatre Company. On June 8 and 9, China's Chongging Chaun Opera Company' will present a magic show called "Zinzi." Some 13 Korean plays will be staged including Jayoo Company's "Flower, Water, and...." and You Theater's hit "A Dwarf and Snow White." There will also be affiliated events such as the Suwon Marinated Galbi (ribs) Festival and the Market Street Festival.

For more information log on to www.shitf.org, or call (031) 246-5665

Japanese intangible cultural asset Mosji Ennen's Dance will perform on June 5 at the Korea National University of Arts and on June 9 at the Umyun Hall in the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts. The dance is a Buddhist dance from the Mosji Temple during the Heian Dynasty and a group of 13 monks who have preserved the dance will perform it. Also, the Seoul Mask Dance Festival 2002 will be held from June 8 to 16th at Samchonggak, Yoido Park, and Sangam-dong Peace Plaza in Seoul. The festival will feature Korean mask dances as well as those of Taiwan, Nepal, and Butan.

For more information call (02) 3676-6789

From June 13, the Seoul Art Cinema will host a Latin America Film Festival and show five films every day starting from 11:30am. A total of 25 films from Mexico, Columbia, Chile, Venezuela, Paraguay and Argentina will be presented.

For more information call (02) 720-9782

The first Chinese Film Festival ‘Nihao China’ will take place at the Seoul Gangbyeon CGV11 from June 13-15.

Lasting until June 10, an exhibition of illustrated poems will be held on the streets of Insa-dong in Seoul to introduce Korean literature to foreigners. The Korean Traditional Costume Festival, which presents palace and folk clothes of the Chosun Dynasty will take place on June 12 at 7:00pm inside Deoksugung Palace.

For more information call (02) 528-0888

(Lee Kyu-hyun, while@chosun.com)