K-Event Review: Inauguration of Jodhpur Garden At Nami Island Children’s International Book Festival, South Korea

Writers: Dr. Priyanka Vyas and Neital Sharma (Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

The Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival, often referred to as NAMBOOK, is a biennial event (occurring every two years) held annually in May on Nami Island, South Korea. This year, the celebration was held from May 3rd (Sat) to May 18th (Sun) across Nami Island in Chuncheon‑si, Gangwon‑do, Korea. The entire island became a “library in nature”, with books in unexpected places—from cafes and restrooms to outdoor installations—everywhere. The festival offered Picture books, illustration art, storytelling, family-friendly workshops, live performances, installations, and country-themed cultural days with exhibitions supported by embassies.

Moreover, it’s one of the few cultural festivals endorsed by UNICEF and hosted by a UNESCO-adjacent locale, as the Island is a certified UNICEF child‑friendly park with a calm environmental tourist destination blending natural scenery with culture and tradition. Visitors explored the gallery where various exhibitions are held.⠀

A Celebration of Culture and Community

The ceremony was honored by Mr. Woong-kih Minn, Chairman of Nami Island, Mr. Byoung Gug Choung, Chair of Arts Council Korea, and Mr. Seong Gu-Kim, Commander of Capital Mechanized Infantry Division at Nami also delivered brief remarks. Governor Jin-tae Kim of Gangwon province also shared his congratulatory message on the occasion. Several senior Korean delegates and cultural leaders from the Republic of Korea Army made it a deeply symbolic moment of international camaraderie.

This historic installation harmonises with the Nam Book Festival, one of South Korea’s most celebrated international literary and cultural events. The festival is dedicated to children’s literature, illustration, storytelling, and intercultural exchange. It weaves a community of artists, authors, educators, and young readers from across the world in an environment that blends books with nature.

Celebrating Indo-Korean Cultural Ties at the 2025 Nami Book Festival

Now here comes the best part. The 2025 Edition was special as India had been announced as the official Guest Country for the Nami Book Festival this year, highlighting Indian narratives, folk art, and educational collaborations. The opening ceremony presented vibrant cultural performances by Korean students from HUFS, Indian artists on Sarod, Flute, and Percussion, and a Harmonium performance by SwarSamwaad.

In a milestone celebration of Indo-Korean cultural ties and India being a Guest Country, The Jodhpur Garden officially opened in Nami Island, South Korea, on May 9, marking a notable cultural collaboration between India and South Korea with a living commemoration to heritage, tradition, peace, and creative exchange. 

The Jodhpur Garden is the outcome of a unified success shared by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust (MMT), Jodhpur; Sarang Srijan, Jodhpur; and Nami Island Arts and Education (NAE), South Korea. The Inauguration was formally attended by the Indian Ambassador to South Korea, Amit Kumar, along with dignitaries, and included a video message from former Maharaja Gaj Singh II as he extended his royal blessings and praised the collaborative spirit of all institutions involved.

The Jodhpur Garden celebrates architectural and cultural heritage, with installations and exhibits inspired by Mehrangarh Fort, traditional folk arts, and Rajasthan’s royal aesthetics, adding a distinct Indian cultural dimension to the island experience. 

The Inauguration of this culturally rich, beautiful garden, and India being the host country, is likely meant to complement the cultural partnership between India and South Korea. The Jodhpur Garden will act as a mini-cultural pavilion within the Island, exhibiting photo-worthy visuals, echoes of the grandeur of Mehrangarh Fort, Indian creativity and artwork showcasing Indian mythology or Rajasthan’s visual arts, storytelling, culture, tradition, and heritage intertwined with illustration and performance programming. 

Celebrating Cultural Diplomacy Through Arts and Workshops

The Embassy supported day‑themes, Indian-inspired workshops, and organized events deepening the diplomatic bonds. The Special supporters were Dr. Sunayana Rathore, Chief Curator of Mehrangarh Museum Trust, and Dr. Priyanka Vyas, Founder of Sarang Srijan, representing India on this special occasion, whose collective efforts brought this cultural vision to life. 

The inaugural also offered a docent tour of the special exhibition, ’The Land of Myths, The Country of Narratives‘ by Indologist and Indian Art Historian, Prof. Ha Jin-hee. A special exhibition by Prof. Ha Jin-hee, wellness workshops focusing on Yoga, Ayurveda, and sound meditation, was also organized, amongst other activities. One of our Indo-Korean Enthusiasts, Chirag Jaladi, who was also the winner of the 2024 Korean Speech Contest at Indo Korean Centre King Sejong Institute, also attended the Festival as an intern from India. Chirag was spotted teaching Korean Children the Indian Traditional and Colourful Art of Rangoli, representing Indian Culture. Musicians from India added melody to the festival, delivering India Music to the Viewers.

Bridging Cultures Through Art and Nature

The soul of Rajasthan – Jodhpur Garden interweaves traditional architectural forms—such as stone jaalis, water features, and courtyards with ecological sensibilities and artistic symbolism. It offers a space for contemplation and celebration, bridging the cultural landscapes of India and Korea through design and narrative. Selected artworks from this initiative were planned to be displayed at the NamBook International Children’s Book Festival 2025 in South Korea.

The Indo-Korean cross-cultural journey led to the establishment of this garden, which began with the Sarang Festival of India on Nami Island in October 2023 and has since flourished through curatorial, academic, and artistic dialogue between Jodhpur and Korea. Also, the Indo-Korean Children Art Program was a creative cultural initiative conducted under the collaboration of Sarang Srijan and Nami Island Arts and Education (NAE). The program invited school children from India to express their artistic vision on the theme “Nature and Future”, fostering global friendship through the universal language of art.

Conclusion

Nami Island, nestled in the North Han River near Chuncheon, is globally renowned for its ethereal natural beauty and its unwavering commitment to art, peace, and ecology. Once a quiet isle, it has evolved into a cultural sanctuary—home to sculptures, museums, thematic gardens, and festivals that attract over three million visitors annually. With its ethos of “Fairy Tale Country for Children,” Nami Island provides an inspiring platform for global artistic engagement, and now proudly hosts the Jodhpur Garden as a permanent installation.

Ultimately, Jodhpur Garden is not just a space—it is a story in itself. It concludes as a hopeful beginning of many stories yet to unfold, and of a growing partnership between India and Korea grounded in creativity, respect, and shared dreams. As visitors explore the garden in the months ahead, the garden continues to stand as a permanent testament to friendship, nurturing curiosity and connection, embodying the festival’s vision of building a fairy tale world rooted in diversity, ecology, and wonder.

Would you like to attend such kind of festival in the near future? What’s your favourite part of the India-Korea relationship? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.