“Bonds that are more than 1,500 years old still last today.” So said President Park Geun-hye at the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival on May 2 in Tehran.
The Korea-Iran One Heart Festival was held in the main hall of the Milad Tower in central Tehran. It was part of Korea Culture Week, or K–Culture Week, a promotional campaign designed to introduce Korea in general terms to the Iranian populace and held in honor of President Park Geun-hye’s state visit to Iran. K-Culture Week is composed of a series of events that feature all things Korean, ranging from traditional performances from both Korea and Iran, through to Korean cuisine, traditional Hanbok clothing, traditional Hanji mulberry paper, Oriental medicine, modern art, Korean porcelain, and poetry and literature.
As part of the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival, Korea's Contemporary Gugak Orchestra and Iran’s National Orchestra performed “Arirang Medley” and an original piece from the Iranian soap opera “Ibn Sina” (1987), based on the story of the well-known Persian philosopher and scientist Avicenna (980- 1037), or Abu Ali ibn Sina.
An audience of more than 1,600 people filled the concert hall, cheering heartily when the Iranian athletes gave a zurkhaneh demonstration, an ancient Persian martial art enlisted on UNESCO's list of intangible world heritage items in 2010, and when the Korean athletes staged a poomsae demonstration of taekwondo moves and techniques.
After enjoying the concert, President Park herself appeared on stage.
“I'm aware that more than two million Iranians practice taekwondo all across the country. Also, Iranian viewers love Korean soap operas so much that the shows ‘Jewel in the Palace’ and ‘Jumong’ won ratings of over 80 percent here,” said President Park, expressing her appreciation for Iran's strong interest in Korea.
“According to a Persian epic poem 'Kush Nama,' there was a destined encounter between a Persian prince and a princess from Silla. I guess that beautiful bond still lasts today,” said President Park, emphasizing the cultural and historic bonds between the two countries.
“I hope that today’s cultural rendezvous can help both countries become closer and expand cultural exchanges. Let’s gather our strengths so that we can create great content on TV and in videos and penetrate world markets together,” she added.
The audience responded with joy as it appreciated the concert, clapping and cheering enthusiastically throughout and quenching its thirst for Korean entertainment. Mana Sabaur, currently majoring in architecture at the University of Gilan, said that the taekwondo demonstration was the most impressive, as it showed striking and smashing, and well-organized moves and techniques. “I was very glad to hear President Park’s remarks as she proposed that Korea and Iran create media content together. I've seen many Korean soap operas since enjoying ‘Jewel in the Palace’ and I'm able to speak a bit of Korean now, too. I believe this is the power of Korean content,” Sabaur said.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han
arete@korea.kr
The Korea-Iran One Heart Festival was held in the main hall of the Milad Tower in central Tehran. It was part of Korea Culture Week, or K–Culture Week, a promotional campaign designed to introduce Korea in general terms to the Iranian populace and held in honor of President Park Geun-hye’s state visit to Iran. K-Culture Week is composed of a series of events that feature all things Korean, ranging from traditional performances from both Korea and Iran, through to Korean cuisine, traditional Hanbok clothing, traditional Hanji mulberry paper, Oriental medicine, modern art, Korean porcelain, and poetry and literature.
Korean and Iranian athletes demonstrate their taekwondo moves in the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival at the Milad Tower in Tehran on May 2.
As part of the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival, Korea's Contemporary Gugak Orchestra and Iran’s National Orchestra performed “Arirang Medley” and an original piece from the Iranian soap opera “Ibn Sina” (1987), based on the story of the well-known Persian philosopher and scientist Avicenna (980- 1037), or Abu Ali ibn Sina.
An audience of more than 1,600 people filled the concert hall, cheering heartily when the Iranian athletes gave a zurkhaneh demonstration, an ancient Persian martial art enlisted on UNESCO's list of intangible world heritage items in 2010, and when the Korean athletes staged a poomsae demonstration of taekwondo moves and techniques.
Korea's Contemporary Gugak Orchestra and Iran’s National Orchestra perform ‘Arirang Medley’ as part of the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival in Tehran on May 2.
After enjoying the concert, President Park herself appeared on stage.
“I'm aware that more than two million Iranians practice taekwondo all across the country. Also, Iranian viewers love Korean soap operas so much that the shows ‘Jewel in the Palace’ and ‘Jumong’ won ratings of over 80 percent here,” said President Park, expressing her appreciation for Iran's strong interest in Korea.
“According to a Persian epic poem 'Kush Nama,' there was a destined encounter between a Persian prince and a princess from Silla. I guess that beautiful bond still lasts today,” said President Park, emphasizing the cultural and historic bonds between the two countries.
“I hope that today’s cultural rendezvous can help both countries become closer and expand cultural exchanges. Let’s gather our strengths so that we can create great content on TV and in videos and penetrate world markets together,” she added.
President Park Geun-hye emphasizes the benefits of cultural exchanges between Korea and Iran in her speech at the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival on May 2.
The audience responded with joy as it appreciated the concert, clapping and cheering enthusiastically throughout and quenching its thirst for Korean entertainment. Mana Sabaur, currently majoring in architecture at the University of Gilan, said that the taekwondo demonstration was the most impressive, as it showed striking and smashing, and well-organized moves and techniques. “I was very glad to hear President Park’s remarks as she proposed that Korea and Iran create media content together. I've seen many Korean soap operas since enjoying ‘Jewel in the Palace’ and I'm able to speak a bit of Korean now, too. I believe this is the power of Korean content,” Sabaur said.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han
arete@korea.kr
Iranian athletes showcase zurkhaneh, an ancient Persian martial art, as part of the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival.
President Park Geun-hye (center) enjoys a performance during the Korea-Iran One Heart Festival.
