CHUNCHEON, South Korea, May 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The city of Chuncheon will transform into a global hub for puppetry later this month, as it hosts the 2025 UNIMA World Congress and Chuncheon World Puppet Festival, drawing more than 1,000 artists from 21 countries.
Scheduled to run from May 26 to June 1 across various venues including the Chuncheon Puppet Theater, the event marks the first time South Korea will host the UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) World Congress, a UNESCO-affiliated organization founded in 1929. It will be the third such event in Asia, following past editions in Japan and China.
The twin events will feature over 300 performances across 100 productions, including three international co-productions, 18 foreign invited works, 43 domestic performances, and 36 fringe shows. Organizers expect the event to attract more than 200,000 visitors, making it one of the largest cultural gatherings of the year in South Korea.
This year’s Congress is particularly significant, returning to an in-person format for the first time in a decade after years of pandemic-era virtual gatherings. Delegates from 54 countries have confirmed attendance, and the Congress will select its next host city and new executive leadership to mark UNIMA’s centennial in 2029.
One of the festival’s most anticipated events is the “Puppet Carnival,” a public parade featuring artists and over 1,000 Chuncheon residents, set to take place on May 24. Other key programming includes an international art market, which aims to more than double last year’s ₩820 million ($564,000) in performance distribution deals, and scholarly forums such as a symposium on May 23 and a roundtable focused on Quebec’s puppet scene on May 27.
The festivities will also include special exhibitions, script and critique publications, and puppetry workshops.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the global world of puppetry right here in Chuncheon,” said Choi Jun-ho, Artistic Director of the Chuncheon Puppet Festival. “It will showcase Korean puppetry to the world and enrich the event with performances that transcend nations and genres.”
Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han emphasized the broader impact of the festival: “This Congress and festival are more than just events—they are a milestone in defining the city’s cultural identity on the global stage. We look forward to welcoming the world with pride and sophistication.”
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
