This is a view of the exterior of the New York Korea Center, which was opened on June 27, on 32nd Street in the city's Manhattan district. 

By Park Hye Ri
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The New York Korea Center was opened on June 27 in the Big Apple to promote Korean culture after its remodeling was completed.

Launched in 1979, the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in New York was expanded and relocated to the new facility on 32nd Street in Manhattan given rising interest there in Hallyu (Korean Wave) content such as K-pop and K-dramas.

The comprehensive culture and arts space houses key institutions promoting Korean culture such as the KCC and branches of the Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Creative Content Agency and King Sejong Institute and offers linked services. The facility is just the sixth of its kind following those in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Beijing, Tokyo and Paris.

With a floor area of 3,383 square m and two basement and seven above-ground floors, the Korea Center also has a basement 190-seat auditorium, media wall on the first floor, exhibition space and garden on the second, library on the third and cooking classroom on the fourth.

Clockwise from left are the New York Korea Center's auditorium, media wall, cooking classroom and exhibition space.

"About 8,000 people visited the center over the trial period between March and June, and we expect it to emerge as a leading venue in New York for experiencing Korean culture," the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. 

"We will provide comprehensive services related to Korean culture, tourism and content in New York to visitors from around the world, thus helping create economic ripple effects by boosting national brand value, strengthening exports of culture content and attracting foreign tourists."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon attended the opening ceremony in the afternoon, and was joined by some 150 representatives from leading cultural and arts institutions in New York.

Culture and arts events for visitors to the new center included performances by the National Gugak Center and New York Classical Players and an exhibition of Hanbok in cinema highlighting the beauty of the traditional clothing.

The Hangeul Wall Project at the KCC features 1,000 phrases written in the Korean language from some 8,000 submissions from around the world used to create a wall at the new center.

Minister Yu said, "By launching the Korea Center in New York, a city that heavily influences the global culture market, we hope not only to promote Korean culture but also emerge as a cultural power to make people around the world eager to experience Korean culture and tourism and consume all products related to Korea."

hrhr@korea.kr