The Seoul Fringe Festival is a performing arts festival. Before 2002, the festival was called the Independent Art Festival. Every year it is held in Seoul, South Korea. All artists are allowed to join. Visitors are invited to try anything the artists want to try. The artists work in many different ways. The first festival was in 1998. Its motto was "The test and seeking of Korean fringe." In 2002, it became the Seoul Fringe Festival. It became an international event. There were different performance groups from other countries in Asia. The 15th Seoul Fringe Festival was held from August 15 to September 1, 2012 in the Hongdae area. The Seoul Fringe Network the festival. The sponsors are the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korean Culture and Arts Committee, Seoul Metropolitan Council, Mapo-gu Office, Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, and Seoul Art Space.