By Kim Hyelin and Lee Hana

A new cultural center for all things related to Korea has opened in Argentina.

The Korean Cultural Center in Argentina opened its doors back in 2006, the first to open in all of Central and South America. Formerly located in a residential house, the cultural center made the decision to move and purchase a bigger building in a new location to meet the local residents' growing interest in Korean culture.

An opening ceremony to commemorate the opening of the Korean Cultural Center in Argentina was held in Buenos Aires on Nov. 7, hosted by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS).

The ceremony was attended by Director of KOCIS Kim Tae-hoon, Argentinean Secretary of State for Culture in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Culture Pablo Avelluto, and around 100 guests from both cultural and political circles.

A traditional music performance and an exhibit showcasing Korean arts and crafts entertained guests at the opening.



The new cultural center, now based in the Retiro district in downtown Buenos Aires, is a three-story building with a basement, with a total surface area of 2,040 square meters. The building has a concert hall, two exhibition spaces, a cultural experience zone, two classrooms, a cooking studio, and a library.

Visitors can look forward to art exhibits, concerts, classes for Korean language, Korean cooking and traditional painting as well as K-pop listening rooms and film screenings.

"Most of our cultural centers are currently housed in rented buildings, but Argentina has become the first country in Central and South America to have a Korean Cultural Center in a state-owned building. As such the Korean Cultural Center in Argentina will now be able to put more funding into cultural exchange programs. In this new building that is easy to access, I hope to see Korean culture flourish," said Director Kim.





kimhyelin211@korea.kr