The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "Traveling K-Culture" project promotes Korean culture worldwide, especially in regions lacking a Korean Cultural Center (KCCs). Shown is the KCC in Los Angeles on June 29 holding an event to mark Korea-Alaska Friendship Day. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
By Kim Seon Ah
Korean Cultural Centers (KCCs) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are hosting events worldwide under the "Traveling K-Culture" project to promote Korean culture.
The project offers opportunities even for regions with no KCCs to easily experience Korean culture and set up a system for this through cooperation with entities like ethnic Korean communities and universities in the host countries.
In Los Angeles, the KCC there will hold Korean cultural events from September to October in New Mexico, Utah and Missouri. To mark Korea-Alaska Friendship Day on June 29, the center held a pungmulnori (farmers' percussion music) performance and an interactive program for trying on Hanbok, earning kudos from attendees.
The KCC in Vietnam, in collaboration with three schools there in the second half of the year, will hold interactive programs on Korean culture. Reflecting surging demand there for the Korean language -- Korean is one of Vietnam's primary foreign-language electives -- the center will cooperate with schools with Korean-language departments to offer ways to experience Korean culture.
In Shanghai, China, the KCC from July 18 to Aug. 23 will host exhibitions and interactive programs for making tteok (rice cake) and makgeolli (milky rice wine), both of which are designated national intangible heritage.
The KCC in the United Arab Emirates in September will hold a performance of traditional percussion music.
KCCs in other global regions are also promoting Korean culture.
A ministry policy official said, "The ministry and KCCs will boost cooperation with relevant government branches, organizations and Korean associations in host countries to actively introduce and spread K-Culture not only to regions with no KCCs but also countries that lack them."
sofiakim218@korea.kr
