A: Hey there, any news from Seoul?
B: Not really, what's up?

A: Check this out! There was a huge cultural exchange festival in Seoul over the weekend.
B: Really? I didn't know about it! What happened?

A: Well, it's been 60 years since Japan and South Korea normalized their diplomatic ties and they celebrated with this annual event. It's a big deal, one of the largest grassroots exchange events between the two countries.
B: Wow, that sounds awesome! What was on show?

A: They had around 60 booths featuring traditional culture and specialty products from both Japan and South Korea. People came in droves, families, visitors... you name it!
B: That must have been quite the sight! Did they have any performances?

A: Yes! This year, there was a Japanese calligrapher named Aoyagi Bisen who wrote "friendship" with traditional string instruments like the koto and gayageum.
B: Cool! I bet that looked amazing! How many people visited last year?

A: A record 12 million people traveled between the two countries last year!
B: Incredible! What did people say about Japanese culture?

A: A South Korean woman in her 40s said she finds it calm and serene but also unique. She's glad her kids got to experience it firsthand.
B: That's great to hear! What about the cosplay fans from Japan?

A: Well, a Japanese woman who was there as a cosplayer said they were very friendly and spoke Japanese well. She even met many child visitors and hopes to make more connections between our countries.
B: That sounds like a fantastic event, I wish I could have been there!