By Honorary Reporter Tereza Benesova from Czech Republic

Photo= Korean Embassy in Prague

The Korean Embassy in Prague has organized several projects to mark the 30th anniversary of Korean-Czech relations. One of them is an open exhibition at Prague Castle on facts about and the culture of Korea, including eight items on UNESCO's Memory of the World list and Hanbok (traditional Korean attire).

A more interactive activity is the embassy's program of running the tram Hanca through the Czech capital until mid-January. The tram has outdoor ads and posters and images inside to allow passengers to learn interesting facts about Korea. The name "Hanca" is derived from han (Korea) and ca (car), literally meaning "Korean tram" in Korean. The term is also common in the Czech language.

The following are excerpts of an interview with the embassy.

How did the idea of dedicating a tram to mark the 30th anniversary of bilateral ties come about?

We sought to do something creative with events or tools we'd never tried before. Instead of holding one-time cultural events that make catching the public eye difficult, this kind of advertising in public places is much easier to promote to the general public. From this perspective, we concluded that the tram, a leading form of public transportation in Prague, was the best way to publicize the message to many citizens and travelers.

What is the aim of this tram project?

This project aims to let the Czech public know that 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Korean-Czech relations and that both nations have cultural similarities despite their geographical distance. The project's slogan is "The Republic of Korea, a true friend of the Czech Republic."

Korean Embassy in Prague's official Facebook page

The tram introduces a few notable items and facts about Korea through the posters inside. Which items stand out?

To decorate the outside of the tram, we aimed to highlight the closeness of the cultural heritage of both countries. The three themes we came up with were the best known monarchs, the historical landmarks of each country's capital, and historical events reflecting scientific and technological excellence. Based on this criteria, we picked the following historical items showing similarities from both nations: King Sejong the Great and Charles IV; Prague Castle and Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul; an astronomical clock in Prague and the Angbu-ilgu, a Korean hemispherical sundial.
For the decoration of the tram's interior walls and windows, we also used the images of the six items of cultural heritage mentioned above and the logo and slogan of "The Republic of Korea, a true friend of the Czech Republic." In addition, 29 leaflets introducing the Korean language and basic expressions, the traditional Korean condiment kimchi, the Taegeukki (Korean national flag), Korean-Czech diplomatic relations and the six items are placed above the windows.

What other projects or events are part of the anniversary celebration?

We prepared several things to celebrate this year but had to cancel several of them due to COVID-19. Instead, we're looking for non-contact events such as an online quiz, a tram naming contest and a "Selfie with the Tram" competition through adverting on this tram.
The official Facebook page of the Korean Embassy in Prague has more information on upcoming events and Korea.

Passengers on the commemorative tram can see posters inside on snippets of Korean culture

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.