K-culture festival in Jeju, wheelchair users can win trips

On Sept 12 and 13, the inaugural K-culture festival 2025 Purple Festa will be held on Jeju Island, South Korea.

- Sarah Stanley

Hosted by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and organised by Jeju Tourism Organization (JTO), the free festival will feature activities like music performances, an art exhibition and a flea market.

Jeju Island, known for its sprawling natural landscapes and fresh seafood, has received more international attention in recent years.

Not only was the popular Netflix drama When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025) — starring South Korean A-listers IU and Park Bo-gum — filmed there, members of K-pop supergroup BTS have often visited Jeju for photo shoots, variety show filmings and leisure trips.

Ms Lim Yeeun, assistant manager at JTO, believes this boost in global visibility will make the festival appealing to an international audience. She adds that the programme is designed to be inclusive.

For example, a mini concert held on the first day will include a dedicated zone for wheelchair users, and the festival's venues — garden cafe Veke and the historic Jeju-mok Government Office, a former political administration office — are step-free for easier access.

This focus on accessibility mirrors a broader movement in the live events industry.