The fifth Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF) opened Saturday for a nine-day run at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul.
President Kim Dae-jung and first lady Lee Hee-ho were among the dignitaries celebrating the showing of 150 long and short animated films and domestic, European and North Korean cartoons.
The presidential couple received cartoon character cards from children attending animation dream classes there.
Established in 1995, the SICAF was first launched for the purpose of promoting the Korean animation industry and raising public awareness of local talent.
SICAF become a biennial event in 1999.