Visitors on May 6 try Korean food at a Hansik (traditional food) promotional event in Egypt. (Korean Embassy in Cairo)

By Uyen Nguyen

Events spotlighting Korean culture are being held around the world.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on June 21 announced its hosting of Korea Week programs with 172 diplomatic missions worldwide to promote Hallyu (Korean Wave).

The week-long flagship initiative for public diplomacy includes cultural events featuring K-pop and K-dramas as well as Korean movies, food, cosmetics and beauty, taekwondo and the Korean language.

From July 30 to Aug. 2, the Korean Embassy in Finland will highlight K-pop and Korean food and cosmetics and beauty, with a focus on esports, in conjunction with Assembly, the Nordic country's largest gaming and cultural festival.

Earlier from June 19-20, the Korean Embassy in Chile, a hub for spreading Hallyu in Latin America, hosted a K-pop dance masterclass, Hansik (traditional cuisine) game show, Korean-language quiz, and interactive cosmetics and beauty booths in Santiago.

In Egypt on May 6, the embassy there held a Korean food event to facilitate export consultations between Korean food companies and Egyptian businesses, along with tasting sessions for consumers and a gugak (traditional music) performance.

Korea Week posters for Korean embassies in Chile (left) and Finland (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The ministry will continue contributing to the K-Initiative, a national strategy to expand global cooperation by connecting Korea's strengths in areas such as culture and industry, as well as the global spread of Hallyu centered on the K-Initiative Council led by overseas diplomatic missions.

uyen81@korea.kr