By Kim Hayeon
The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) under the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism from next month will host the event "Korean Culture Scene" to promote the nation's attractions in Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Belgium, Hungary and the U.K. in a manner tailored for each country.
This event uses key themes of Korean culture especially popular in the host country and is held in a number of places there.
Through November, the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Bangkok will host a Korea-Thailand exchange exhibition of webtoonists using intellectual property rights, reflecting high Thai interest in Korean webtoons. Because Thailand's national religion is Buddhism, religious events will be held like sampling food from Korean Buddhist temples.
Over the same period, the KCC in Hong Kong, a city said to have the hottest fever for K-pop in Asia, will host K-pop concerts and lectures on pop culture in both Korea and Hong Kong.
In cooperation with the Hong Kong aT Center, the Hong Kong branch of the Korea Tourism Organization, and the Hong Kong-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the KCC will also run Korea Plaza, an interactive space for traditional Korean culture such as Hanbok, traditional games and crafts and where Korean companies and those of Koreans in the city can promote their goods.
In Vietnam, the KCC in Hanoi will commemorate Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) Day by hosting next month a Korean literature reading contest and meeting with Korean authors in Ho Chi Minh City.
In Belgium, performances and events will be held through December to promote major genres of Korean music including K-pop, classical and traditional.
The KCC in Hungary through late next month will introduce Korean artisans' crafts and hold traditional performing arts and interactive programs.
In the U.K., convergence performances linked to cultural events in the country will be held through November.
As part of "Korean Culture Scene," KOCIS plans to hold exhibitions and performances touring KCCs abroad and host cultural events there.
Under the theme "Chronicle of the K-pop Change Process," an exhibition in Vietnam on Oct. 6 will start things off, followed by those in Belgium, Thailand and Hong Kong.
To mark the adoption of breakdancing as an official event at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, touring performances are slated in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Belgium and the U.K.
Kim Nana, director of KOCIS' Global Culture Promotion Division, said, "We hope that this Korean cultural festival helps spread the appeal of Korean culture to people around the world," adding, "KOCIS plans to continue providing venues for cultural exchange."
(The titles and names of the events and exhibitions are all unofficial translations).
hayeounk8@korea.kr
