Last month, on 21 September, a special and heart-warming connection was forged between the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) and a remarkable group of guests from the Dominican School for the Deaf.

▲ The students touring the Centre

During their visit, the students and teachers embarked on a journey through Korean culture. They had a special cooking class making a traditional Korean rice cake dish ‘songpyeon’ in celebration of the Korea’s autumn harvest festival ‘Chuseok,’ commonly known as the Korean Thanksgiving. The day's activities also included tours of the Centre’s permanent and temporary exhibitions, screening of K-pop music videos, a quiz game about Korea, and a delightful tasting session featuring various Korean cuisine.

▲ The students watching a K-pop music video with sign language choreography and learning to make ‘songpyeon’

The visit was highlighted as it concluded with a special session, where the students and Centre staff engaged in meaningful dialogue. The students learned more about Korea and its culture through a Q&A session with the staff, while the Centre's staff, in a heartfelt gesture, learned basic expressions of the South African Sign Language (SASL), which recently became the country’s 12th official language. During this interaction, the students bestowed unique sign names upon the Centre’s staff, fostering special connections that echoed throughout the day.

▲ (Left) Given, the Dominican School’s teacher

Given, the Dominican School’s teacher who collaborated with the Centre to organize the visit, said, “I am truly grateful to the Korean Cultural Centre for preparing such a special program for our students. I was moved by the Centre’s efforts to care for the students especially when I realized they particularly selected a K-pop music video that included sign language, and, most of all, it touched my heart to see the students enjoying themselves.”

▲ The students spending the last minutes of the day with the Centre’s staff

This visit is a testament to the Centre’s ongoing commitment to fostering cultural understanding and inclusivity. Through its visit program, the Centre has welcomed diverse groups and individuals, including Paradiso Primary School, the Teachers Association of Sikhululekile High School, the KCC Supporters, Crawford International School, the South African Taekwondo Federation, and the Soshanguve Football Club, among others.

▲ The students and teachers with the Centre’s staff

The Centre is determined in its mission to continue these programs, aiming to introduce Korean culture to a broader public in South Africa, and to build bridges connecting various cultures promoting the cultural exchanges.