Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon on the afternoon of April 30 delivers a congratulatory speech at the induction ceremony for this year's global content creators of Korean culture at CKL Stage of the Korea Creative Content Agency in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

By Kim Hyelin
Photos = Heo Man-jin, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

A combined 2,641 foreign promoters of Korea have begun their activities this year after receiving certificates of appointment.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 30 hosted the induction ceremony for the 2024 class of such content creators at CKL Stage of the Korea Creative Content Agency in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

Now in its 14th year, the program this year comprises 1,387 members of the 14th class of Korea.net Honorary Reporters from 93 countries and 1,254 of the fifth class of K-influencers from 97 countries. They will cover and share Korea-related news and events in their native languages through news articles, photos and videos to promote Korea to the world.

Under the theme "K-Voyage Begins," the ceremony attracted 100 global content creators including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon and Deputy Minister Yong Ho Sung, with another 100 promoters abroad taking part online.

"You are all precious friends of Korea who actively promote the country around the globe and form a massive Hallyu (Korean Wave) network," Minister Yu said in his congratulatory speech. "Information on Korean culture, history, tourism and policies that each of you will introduce will play a pump-priming role for people in the world to properly understand and experience Korea." 

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon (fourth from right) on the afternoon of April 30 poses for photos at the induction ceremony of this year's class of global content creators of Korean culture at CKL Stage of the Korea Creative Content Agency in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

One of the attending creators was Faranaksadat Solat, a Ph.D. student from Iran researching artificial intelligence software at a university in Korea who joined last year's class. "Because I came to Korea to study given my fascination with Korean history, I want to write articles on historical sites in the country," she said.

Romanian promoter and YouTuber Bacu Antonia Virginia, who runs a company that provides information on Korean culture, said, "I'm honored to be selected as a K-influencer for three straight years," adding, "I will actively take part in the K-influencer Academy to develop my skills and produce unique content."

"I believe that Korea is 'everything' that goes deeper and wider than K-pop or Hallyu," added Albert Busutil Martinez, a Spaniard who teaches Korean to non-Koreans. "If everyone finds a field that they're passionate about and creates content about it, they can stand out."

The ceremony attracted an estimated 26,843 viewers during its real-time airing on Korea.net's YouTube channel.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr