Culture has helped Korea and Iran become united once again.
A special festival took place in Tehran that united Korean and Iranian cultures.

It was held at the Milad Tower in Tehran, the actual venue of the first of festival of this type that took place in May 2016 on the occasion of President Park Geun-hye’s state visit to Iran.

A delegation representing Korean culture hosted the event, dubbed the 2016 Korea-Iran Cultural Harmony in Teheran festival, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 in Tehran. The delegation was led by First Vice Minister Jung Kwan-joo of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.





At the concert hall at the Milad Tower, a joint performance featuring Korean traditional dance and Iranian traditional theater plays was held on Oct. 1 and 2. Titled “Basilla with Naqqali,” the performance was based on a history-based epic involving a love story between a Persian prince and a Silla princess, and the heroes that protected both countries.

The performance also featured Naqqali, an Iranian dramatic story-telling performance which has been listed as an item on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list, a symbol of cultural exchange between Korea and Iran.

The festival also included an exhibit titled “DNA of Coreanity” about Korean painting and its development. The exhibit, which also took place at the Milad Tower, introduced 46 works of art from Korean artists that represent modern and contemporary Korean arts.





The festival offered Teheranis a chance to experience Korean traditional culture. Festival goers tried on some traditional Korean clothes, experienced the painting of the traditional four noble lords, the sagunja, saw some traditional fan-making and sampled some traditional Korean tea varieties that have medicinal effects. The program also included tourism information targeted at those interested in traveling to Korea during the festival.

As a sideline event, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea and the Islamic Art and Thoughts from the Islamic Propagation and Organization signed an agreement in regard to publishing literary works from both countries. The two organizations agreed to further boost cultural exchanges by introducing excellent literary works of each other’s country and to host literature-related events.

Vice Minister Jung held a meeting with Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati on Oct. 1. The two ministers discussed measures to extend cultural exchanges between Korea and Iran for the advancement of bilateral relations.

Vice Minister Jung said, “Cultural exchanges will help deepen the Korea-Iran relationship, as it will serve as a stepping stone to boost the friendship in all sectors of the economy and society.”

“The government will work hard for the successful hosting of the upcoming 2017 Korea-Iran Year of Cultural Exchange festival, which was agreed by leaders of both countries this May, so that it can become a turning point in the bilateral relationship," he said.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: MCST, Yonhap News
arete@korea.kr