The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange on May 28 announced the launch of this year's Touring K-Arts project. Shown is the singing and dancing show "Look at Me" on April 14, 2025, at the Korean Cultural Center in Beijing by Miryang Arirang Art Company. (Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange)

By Lee Jihae

A touring program will soon showcase the essence of Korean culture and arts centered at Korean Cultural Centers (KCC) around the world.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange on May 28 announced their launch of this year's Touring K-Arts, which promotes Korean arts and culture overseas.

A combined 21 outstanding performances, 13 exhibitions and 12 lectures will be held in 45 cities in 30 countries.

The opening act is "Chunhyang," the Namwon National Gugak Center's signature changgeuk (traditional opera), slated for July 9 at National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka, Japan, and May 13 at National Theatre Okinawa in Okinawa.

"4-Person Play Concert X," a traditional creative music show, will open on Aug. 1 at the KCC in New York and Aug. 5 at Zipper Hall in Los Angeles.

KCCs will host exhibitions with modern reinterpretations of Korean culture. The Savina Museum of Contemporary Art's exhibition "Hanbok, Reborn as Art" will run from July 3 to Sept. 26 at the KCC in the Philippines. It will premiere on Oct. 27 at the KCC in Malaysia, which will be opened in the second half of this year, and run through January next year.

As an event shedding light on the roots of K-pop, the National Gugak Center's exhibition "K-pop Meets Korean Traditional Music" runs until Aug. 5 at the KCC in Argentina and from Sept. 7 to Nov. 8 at the KCC in Brazil.

In fall, the National Intangible Heritage Center's performance "Pungjang Korea" will showcase nongak (traditional farmers music) on Nov. 4 at Eiffel Art Studios in Budapest, Hungary, and Nov. 15 at the AKM (Ataturk Cultural Center) in Istanbul, Turkiye (Turkey).

"Talbakkum," a modern reinterpretation of talchum (mask dance) by the National Dance Company Korea, will be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at the KCC in New York before concluding its run in Washington on Nov. 4.

jihlee08@korea.kr