A new Korean Cultural Center has opened its doors in Rome, the Italian capital, becoming the 31st Korean Cultural Center in the world and the 10th in Europe.

On Oct. 26, the Korean Cultural Center in Rome held its opening ceremony. The event was attended by Italian Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Ilaria Borletti Buitoni, Director Kim Kabsoo of the Korean Cultural and Information Service (KOCIS), Korean Ambassador to Italy Lee Yong-joon, and Lee Su-myung, director of the new center. More than 200 government representatives from Korea and Italy, from artistic communities and from the press were present at the ceremony.




"Just as Koreans are moved by Verdi and Puccini's operas, and Michelangelo and Da Vinci's masterpieces, I hope Italians will be touched by the Korean works of art, Hansik, taekwondo and K-pop showcased at the new Korean Cultural Center," said Director Kim Kabsoo during his congratulatory speech.

As part of the celebration, the center will host a number of cultural events until the end of the year. A classical concert series began on Oct. 16 featuring an ensemble of four Korean and 20 Italian instrumentalists, and eight Korean opera singers. On Oct. 27 and 28, there will be performances by traditional gugak singer Kang Hyojoo and the B-boying dance troupe Gambler Crew, among others.

From Nov. 21 to 26, the center will host Korea Week, a festival that includes everything from food tasting (Nov. 21), beauty product sampling (Nov. 22), paper exhibits (Nov. 23), a taekwondo demonstration (Nov. 25), and musical concerts (Nov. 24-26).

The new cultural center is located on Nomentana Street in Rome, around the corner from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the British Embassy, and is only 15 minutes from the central Rome.

The center, including the fifth floor main hall, the second floor annex and outdoor gardens, covers 220 square meters. The center houses a reception area, a K-Culture Experience Hall, the Sejong Korean Language School, an exhibition hall, a multi-purpose room, a Hansik studio, an art workroom and some offices.






The K-Culture Experience Hall, the Hansik lecture room and the art workrooms are special features of the center. The K-Culture Experience Hall has a traditional sarangbang guest reception room, exhibits chronicling Korean history, and a large media wall showcasing multimedia content. Thanks to a collaboration with SBS, a broadcasting network, it's possible to watch a selection of Korean TV programs. You can also try taking virtual photos and experience virtual reality (VR).

In the Hansik studio, complete with stoves and sinks, up to 10 students can participate in a cooking class and make popular Korean dishes.

The art workrooms were built to provide support to budding Korean and Italian artists. They feature small (10 square meters), medium (15 square meters) and large (30 square meters) studio spaces equipped with bathrooms and small kitchens.

A number of artists contributed their works to the center to celebrate its opening. Folk artist Suh Hong Im donated two peony paintings and two still life paintings, and marble sculptor Park Eun-sun is showing his works at the center's opening exhibit. Large murals by calligrapher Kim Jung Nam can be seen in the main hall on the third floor.

Finally, the Korea Craft and Design Foundation is also showcasing several works of art from this year's Milan Triennale International Exhibit in the center's exhibition hall. Sculptor Park Eun-sun's works are on display in the outdoor gardens.

By Wi Tack-whan, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: KOCIS
whan23@korea.kr