By Dr. Prof. Sunok Kang
In the foothills of northern Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, an unlikely model of cultural diplomacy unfolded across the campus of Shinhan University. Over the course of three days, from 25 to 27 May 2025, the university hosted its annual Hwarang Festival—a rapidly evolving platform that brings together education, community identity, and international cultural exchange.
Attracting an estimated 50,000 attendees, this year’s festival was the largest in its history. The title Hwarang is derived from the Sino-Korean characters for “transformation” and “wave”, symbolising the university’s vision of being a “local creator-type global university.” The festival reflects Shinhan’s ambition to foster a new paradigm in higher education—one where community, diversity, and diplomacy intersect meaningfully through cultural expression.
Now regarded as one of Korea’s most ambitious university-led public festivals, the 2025 edition featured an expansive international cultural programme spearheaded by the university’s College of Global Studies. Students from eight countries—including Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan—participated in traditional costume fashion shows, international culinary exhibitions, and embassy-sponsored cultural booths. These cross-cultural showcases not only celebrated diversity but also offered a space for dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared sense of global citizenship.
Adding weight to the event’s international resonance, diplomatic delegations from the Embassies of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan made official visits to the festival, underscoring its growing relevance as a forum for soft diplomacy. What was once a campus celebration has emerged as a venue through which local communities and international stakeholders meet—not merely to observe, but to engage.
Live performances by Korean musical artists such as 10CM, Apink, tripleS, Woo Won-jae, GRAY, pH-1, and Car, the Garden drew thousands. Complementing these headline acts were youth busking sessions and performances by regional youth art troupes, all contributing to the festival’s accessible and inclusive character.
Families enjoyed interactive attractions ranging from hot air balloons and Viking ship rides to vibrant food truck zones. Meanwhile, the inclusion of a youth entrepreneurship flea market and a food court operated in partnership with local business associations enabled the festival to contribute tangibly to the revitalisation of the local economy.
Shinhan University President Kang Seong-jong remarked:
“The 2025 Hwarang Festival exemplifies our institutional mission—to grow with our community while extending our reach globally. It stands as a living expression of regional cooperation and global education.”
Cultural analysts and educators have taken note. With its unique convergence of education, diplomacy, economic participation, and artistic collaboration, the Hwarang Festival has positioned itself as a model for universities seeking to rethink their civic and global roles.
As South Korea continues to redefine its cultural presence on the international stage, events such as Shinhan University’s Hwarang Festival offer compelling blueprints for how institutions of higher education might actively shape the global commons—by starting, quite simply, in their own backyards.
