Ulaanbaatar
Mongolian School in Seoul Celebrates 25th Annual Naadam Festival
Art & Culture
Ulaanbaatar, September 19, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The Mongolian School in the Republic of Korea, which operated for 27 years, traditionally organised the “Mongol Naadam” festival on September 14, 2025.
According to the Embassy of Mongolia in Seoul, the 2025 Naadam, marking its 25th edition, is especially significant as it coincides with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea. It's also become a tradition for the leadership of Seoul’s Gwangjin District to attend the school’s Naadam festival every year.
The festival commenced with the performance of the National Anthem and the hoisting of the State Flag of Mongolia. Mongolian students, alumni, parents, and distinguished guests, all dressed in traditional deels (costumes), participated in a variety of cultural activities, including folk art performances, wrestling, archery, a daaga race, and Mongolian song singing contests.
Although far from their homeland, the School community has been passing on the Mongolian language, national culture, and both tangible and intangible heritage to younger generations since organizing the Mongol Naadam for the first time in 1999.
The School offers classes in the Mongolian language, history, and culture taught by Mongolian teachers. Approximately 320 children are enrolled in grades 1 through 12 this academic year. Currently, some 59,000 Mongolian citizens live and work in the Republic of Korea.
