▲ This photo, provided by the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park, shows the poster for the Yokai exhibition. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park, shows a Yokai figure. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Mar. 8 (Yonhap) -- The “Yokai March” exhibition, which was held in Seoul and also in Jeju, will end at the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park in North Gyeongsang Province.

The Consulate-General of Japan in Busan, the Japan Foundation Cultural Center in Seoul, Gyeongju City, and the Korea-Japan Culture Forum have joined hands to hold this exhibition, titled “Yokai March: Mysterious Sprits from Japan,” at the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park Cultural Center from Mar. 13 to 26, the Park confirmed Tuesday.

The organizers will introduce this particular Japanese folklore, featuring ghosts, monsters, and legendary figures from Japan that have been widely introduced in multiple films and toys. The upcoming exhibition will shed light on Maki-e (a Japanese lacquer decoration technique) and Nishiki-e (a type of Japanese multi-colored woodblock painting).

The Japanese yokai, also known as Yaoguai, are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore, whose behaviors can range from malevolent or mischievous to benevolent to humans. They often tend to have animal features but may also appear humanoid in appearance, appalling or frightening humans.

However, these entities have gradually changed from an object of fear to a playful friends.

The forthcoming exhibition will serve as the gateway to this world of mysterious monsters, focusing on the popularization of Japanese monsters. It first began in Rome, Italy, and moved on to be displayed in Seoul and Jeju in South Korea.

Ryu Hee-rim, CEO of the Park, said, “In Japan, there is even the so-called “Yokai industry,” which is based on the Yokai culture. There is a slew of animated films that are based on these supernatural entities, including the already well-known Pokemon. I hope the exhibition will serve as an opportunity for more people to get to know the kinds of Yokais that coexist in our culture.”


(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)

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