The 5th festival runs Oct. 24 from noon in the Jongno 3-ga jewelry industry special zone along Seosunna-gil and Donhwamun-ro, featuring 14 hands-on programs, a price-breaking auction, a runway show and an onstage marriage proposal
Jongno-gu will host the 5th K-Jewelry Jongno Festival in the Jongno 3-ga jewelry industry special zone on Oct. 24. From noon to 9 p.m., the streets along Donhwamun-ro 10-gil and Seosunna-gil will transform into one vast workshop.
This year's festival carries the subtitle "Jongno, the street where jewelry is born" — a phrase that captures the district's role as home to every stage of the industry, from design studios and metalworking workshops to the storefronts where finished pieces meet their buyers.
Along Donhwamun-ro 10-gil, 14 hands-on programs will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants pay only for materials and can register in advance through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public service reservation system; walk-in registration will also be accepted on the day. The Seoul Jewelry Support Center on Seosunna-gil will separately offer a "make your own ring" session.
Master craftspeople with decades of experience will offer free demonstrations of their work up close. Visitors can have their initials engraved, have jewelry cleaned, or receive consultation on repurposing long-stored gemstones. Live polishing demonstrations — showing how rough metal surfaces are buffed to a shine — and embroidered name-tag making are also on the program.
A special stage at the entrance to Seosunna-gil will keep the entertainment coming without pause. Price-breaking auctions, where items go to the highest bidder at below-market prices, will be held twice — at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. From 3 p.m., the program continues with a jewelry runway show titled "Hangul Becomes Design," showcasing award-winning pieces, followed by a commemorative ceremony and celebratory performances.
Beyond the main street, a world of gemstones awaits visitors. Thirty-five companies will hold a special world gems and minerals exhibition from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong and the Dorothy Showroom, where natural stones, rare minerals and related products will be on display. Visitors who bring jewelry from home can have it appraised free of charge. Seminars in a book-concert format — on the themes "Gemstones Made Easy" and "Your First Encounter with the World of Gems" — will be held at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Shopping is part of the fun as well. Twenty brands and manufacturers based in Jongno will set up pop-up stores along Seosunna-gil, and nearby shops will offer discounts of 10 to 20 percent.
Visitors who present a receipt showing a purchase of 30,000 won ($22) or more at the festival grounds will receive a raffle entry. Other events include a wedding ring promotion — where a selected couple wins a 14-karat couple's ring and the chance to propose on stage — a stamp-collecting treasure hunt through the alleyways, on-site games and a satisfaction survey.
"Jongno is where Korea's jewelry is first designed, crafted and presented to customers," Jongno-gu District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong said. "I hope visitors will watch that process firsthand, try it themselves and discover the true value of Jongno jewelry at this festival."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
