By Kang Gahui and Lee Jihae

First lady Kim Keon Hee on June 28 visited the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Madrid, Spain.

She looked around the KCC for about 40 minutes while President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a bilateral summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The visit marked her first official schedule abroad alone since her husband assumed office.

She is accompanying the president on his first overseas trip, in this case to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.

The first lady looked at works by designer Kim A-young at the exhibition "The Old Wears the New" on the KCC's first floor. She listened to explanations on Kim's designs and touched the clothes, hailing the artificial silk used as "great materials." 

"The value of Korean apparel materials is exceptional. Korean culture can be expanded creatively," she added.

The first lady also visited the second floor of the KCC, namely the library, handicraft room and Korean-language classroom.

In a meeting with KCC Director Oh Jihoon and his staff, she said, "Korean culture and cuisine seem to be energized in Spain."

"The KCC is 11 years old, but this result is all thanks to the hard work of its staff," she added. "The KCC is a place that needs a lot more encouragement from now on."

"I came to Spain today, and saw how such a small (space) can show all of Korea," she said. "I can clearly feel how the proud the people here are in promoting Korea."

The staff said Spanish interest in Korean architecture, cinema, music and language is "so hot" given that even small cities in Spain request Hallyu events.

The first lady responded by saying, "Please strive to spread the interest of Spaniards to all fields related to Korean life such as K-pop, Korean fashion and beauty, and Hansik (Korean food)."

kgh89@korea.kr