By Honorary Reporter Noorhan Adel from Egypt

Janggu team group photo. (KCC in Egypt)

The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Egypt on March 18 held the event "Visit to the Korean Cultural Center in 2023 - New Cairo" (unofficial translation) at Cairo Korean School in New Cairo featuring traditional Korean culture. The event is held in cities and regions in Egypt with low access to Korean culture.

The KCC contacted a janggu (traditional drum) team from a gugak (traditional music) studio that I attend and invited members to perform at the event. 

This event receives support from the National Gugak Center in Seoul and KCC. Graduates of the center's courses in programs like traditional music, K-pop and taekwondo also participated.

I took janggu classes for two weeks before the event. I practiced a lot but because of stage fright and anxiety, I failed do my best during the performance, missing a lot of beats. My teammates were supportive and encouraging as we practiced extensively and held two rehearsals before the performance. 

The audience surprisingly enjoyed our playing despite not everyone in attendance being interested in traditional Korean music.

The event was divided into two parts, with the first featuring gugak, janggu, K-pop and taekwondo.

I wrote my name in calligraphic Hangeul. (Noorhan Adel)

The second part was held at the school playground featuring booths each showing an aspect of Korean culture. A library booth had Korean magazines, a calligraphy booth small cards where visitors could write their names in Hangeul and a traditional clothing booth the chance to try on Hanbok.

These are the rice cake desserts injeolmi and gyeongdan. (Noorhan Adel)

The Korean food booth served desserts like types of tteok (rice cake) such as gyeongdan and injeolmi. I was hesitant to try them because they were covered in soy powder but I eventually did and loved them. I felt that they were not entirely vegetarian though they were meant to be. 

I found the event fantastic and hope for more soon.

msjeon22@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.