Foreign influencers on June 26 take a group photo in front of Dondeokjeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace in Seoul's Jung-gu District at a preview event for the hall's opening. (Cultural Heritage Administration) 

By Yoon Seungjin

Twelve influencers from countries that had diplomatic ties with the Korean Empire 100 years ago have been named foreign ambassadors for Deoksugung Palace in Seoul.

The palace's management office under the Cultural Heritage Administration's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center on Aug. 16 held an appointment ceremony at the third-floor conference room of the palace's Dondeokjeon Hall in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

The young envoys are expats active in culture and arts in Korea and hail from Japan, the U.S., Germany, U.K., Italy, Russia, France, Austria, Hungary, China, Belgium and Denmark.

They participated on June 26 in a preview event for the opening of Dondeokjeon and will promote the palace and information about it. They will attend the hall's official opening on Sept. 25, create relevant promotional content and serve as tour guides at Deoksugung.
 

In addition, another 46 influencers will be named ambassadors next month from the 46 countries that took part in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the first global expo that the Joseon Dynasty participated in.

"This whole group of 46 (global young ambassadors) will not only promote Deoksugung Palace and Dondeokjeon Hall to the world, but also are expected to actively respond to governmental cultural policies such as promoting the 2030 Busan Expo with the slogan '100 Years of Memory, 100 Years of Friendship - World Expo in Korea,'" the management office said in a news release. 

Dondeokjeon is a Western-style guesthouse built on the 40th anniversary of King Gojong's ascension to the throne to show the world the country's commitment to modernization and protection of its sovereignty. The venue was where the later Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire hosted banquets and provided accommodation for high-level foreign dignitaries.

scf2979@korea.kr