명동성당, 코로나 확산 속 비대면 성탄 축제 개최해<br /><br />Now, Myeongdong in downtown Seoul is one of South Korea's prime shopping districts - you’ll find shopping malls, street shops, trendy restaurants and cafes - it's usually THE place to be on Christmas Eve in the nation's capital.<br />That's not quite the case this year.<br />Our Han Seong-woo is outside the Myeongdong Cathedral, symbolic of Christmas in South Korea.<br />Seong-woo, things look much subdued for Christmas Eve.<br />There's still a few hours left... but Merry Christmas Conn-young<br />Myeongdong is usually packed on Christmas Eve, with people visiting the 122 year-old Myeongdong Cathedral behind me.<br />But this year, there are few tourists or shoppers to be seen.<br />And since evening mass will be conducted online, not too many worshippers are here either.<br />"I had always thought the end of the year to be a time of people gathering and spending time together... but since that isn't the case this year, this winter feels a bit chillier than usual."<br />What can be seen though is a special nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus.<br />The manger is empty now but just before midnight, Myeongdong Cathedral will carry out the ritual of placing Baby Jesus inside his crib.<br />In the background, you can also see a drawing of a COVID-19 patient and a doctor, hands clenched in hope, wearing protective clothing.<br />A very meaningful scene indeed...<br />I'm used to seeing Christmas markets and artistic performances at Myeongdong this time of the year though.<br />I know they're impossible with COVID-19 but are there any other events being held?<br />There's actually a lot planned for the days ahead...<br />This year, the Archdiocese of Seoul has decided to go online with its festivities.<br />Its virtual Christmas festival, "Myeongdong Lights Up the Winter 2020", just began an hour ago<br />and is being streamed live on Youtube from the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation.<br />The festival will feature carol performances, talk shows, religious auctions and celebrity appearances.<br />Earlier in the month, a Christian band also sang carols like "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Winter Wonderland" inside the cathedral to lift Koreans' spirits as part of an online Christmas concert.<br />That's all I have for this newscast but before I leave Myeongdong... happy holidays to all our viewers watching at home.<br />Back to you, Conn-young.<br />
