The MOKKOJI FESTIVAL 2024 in Hungary was meant to be a full weekend celebration on the 5th & 6th October this year but due to unforeseen circumstances, Saturday’s event was canceled after a WWII bomb was discovered on the premises. Despite this, I was determined to attend on Sunday, October 6th, and experience the vibrant Korean culture the festival promised to showcase. Currently I am staying in Romania and the journey from Romania to Budapest wasn't easy this time. With no direct transport available, I had to ask for a ride to another town and catch a bus from there to Budapest, arriving after 3 a.m. Despite the exhaustion, my excitement for the festival outweighed the tiredness, and I headed to Budapest Park early in the morning to make the most of the day.
MOKKOJI FESTIVAL is a unique platform for cultural exchange, bringing Korea’s dynamic heritage to the world. From K-beauty and K-food stalls to interactive K-playground games and dance classes, the festival truly immersed attendees in the Korean experience. Although I didn’t participate in the dance class led by the well known K-pop choreographer Jay Kim, it was nice to see Hungarian youth enthusiastically embracing the Hallyu (Korean wave) movement. Their excitement for K-pop and Korean culture was evident as they perfected their dance moves with energy and passion. Choreographer Jay Kim also led the dance practice for the Hungarian dance group called Oneteam Budpaest who performed a K Pop dance choreography. And of course no cultural festival is complete without a traditional dance right? There was group of ladies who have done an amazing job showcasing their dance in a gorgeous Hanbok attire and a fan.
One of the most enjoyable parts of the festival was seeing how authentic the entire setup felt. They really re created Korean style festivals. The K-food stalls were a highlight for me. I was thrilled to stock up on my favourite Korean ramen, which is difficult to find in Romania. Also had the opportunity to meet the owners of one of the Asian Shop in Hungary. They kindly explained how the ordering process works for my future orders. The daughter of the owner was so cool and we even took a selfie together. Note, the kimchi was really good! If you are looking for an Asian shop in Hungary they are the one! There was also a K-cooking class that added a local twist by using Hungarian ingredients to create Korean-inspired dishes sad I missed most of this because I was busy checking out Korean Air stand to try and win a gift. I really wanted to win a flight to Korea. I did win, a cute tote bag.
The concert was undoubtedly the highlight of the festival, and it was everything I had hoped for, and more. Seeing Sunmi live was a dream come true. I followed her for so long, since her Wonder Girls days. Her charismatic performance had the crowd mesmerised, and her stage presence was simply electric. She even tried to speak in Hungarian it was very cute. They all did to be fair and it was very nice to see them make effort to learn our language. But the real surprise for me was Dreamcatcher. I didn’t expect them to be so cool, and they truly exceeded all my expectations. Their performance was powerful and captivating, instantly turning me into a fan. AB6IX also brought incredible energy to the stage, and they went the extra mile by engaging the audience with some fun dance challenges. It was such a delight to watch them interact with the fans and create memorable moments through their performances. Plus let's not forget to mention that Dae Whi as an MC did a great job as well as Gahyun.
A fun fact I discovered at the festival is that 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of Korea and Hungary’s diplomatic relations. This milestone made the festival even more meaningful, as it served as a celebration of the strong cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations. The festival highlighted how cultural exchange can bring countries closer, fostering mutual respect and understanding through shared experiences.
As part of the "Ride the Korean Wave Years 2023-2024" program, I was particularly excited to see the stand dedicated to promoting this initiative. The program aims to spread awareness and appreciation of Korean culture across the globe, and seeing it represented at MOKKOJI FESTIVAL made me feel proud to be a part of it. The stand was informative, offering insight into Korean culture and travel and it was great to see so many people interested in learning more about Korea’s cultural influence worldwide.
Another special moment from the festival was meeting Belak Henriett, a talented artist who paints while listening to music, but no any music K-pop music. It was incredible to see how she combines her passion for art and K-pop, creating a unique fusion of music and visual expression. Her work was mesmerizing, and she was such a warm and welcoming person. I can’t wait to connect with her again in the future and find out more about her and her art.
MOKKOJI FESTIVAL 2024 in Hungary was an unforgettable experience, despite the unexpected start. From the interactive cultural stands to the electrifying concert, the festival truly brought the best of Korean culture to life in Hungary. As someone deeply passionate about Korean culture, attending the festival felt like a personal celebration, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in such a rich and vibrant cultural exchange.
Whether you’re a fan of K-pop, Korean food, or beauty trends, this festival has something for everyone. It’s a reminder of the power of culture to bring people together and the importance of celebrating our shared connections. If you missed out this year, be sure to follow along for more updates from the MOKKOJI KOREA YouTube channel and mark your calendars for the next festival!
How about this article?
- Like1
- Support0
- Amazing1
- Sad0
- Curious0
- Insightful1