By Honorary Reporter Daniela Astolfi from Italy
Photos = Daniela Astolfi  

The Baroque building Palazzo Litta in Milan, Italy, on Oct. 12 hosted an event marking Korea's National Foundation Day.

To mark Korea's National Foundation Day, I attended on Oct. 12 an event hosted by the Korean Consulate General in Milan, Italy, at the magnificent Baroque building Palazzo Litta. The holiday in Korea is observed on Oct. 3. 

The highlight of the event was the opening of the exhibition "Il Ritmo della Pietra" by sculptor Park Eun-sun. 

My motivation to attend the event stemmed from my appreciation for Korea and its tradition, as I began marking the country's holidays on my calendar alongside those of Italy. My interest in Korea began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I started watching K-dramas out of curiosity and later sought books and information on Korea from universities and cultural institutions.

These sculptures by artist Park Eun-sun are displayed at Palazzo Litta in Milan, Italy. 

Exploring the exhibition, I was captivated by the charm of Park's sculptures. His use of ancient materials in his marble and bronze works perfectly complemented the opulent setting of the palace, harmonizing contemporary Korean art with Italian aesthetics. His luminous marble spheres were truly enchanting. The artist crafted this work by hollowing out the spheres and placing lights inside, which brought out the colors and veins of the marble in a mesmerizing fashion.

The event featured the rich cultural heritage of both countries. A Korean opera singer sang the national anthems of the two sides. Consul General Kang Hyung-shik welcomed the guests and said the event could boost appreciation of Korean art in Italy and bilateral friendship and cooperation, while artist Park shared insights from his creative process. 

After the opening of the exhibition, attendees were treated to a fusion of Korean and Italian food like lasagna and spicy Korean-style chicken. It was encouraging to see the growing fascination of the Italian guests with Korean art and culture. The person who brought me to the event was my Korean friend Yoo Mi-na, a social influencer, model and history teacher who promotes traditional and modern Hanbok in Korea and overseas.

My friend Yoo Mi-na wears Hanbok at the event in Milan.

Yoo and her mother graced the event in Hanbok outfits inspired by the two countries' flags, symbolizing a beautiful gesture of cultural unity.

The event at Palazzo Litta showed the power of conducting cultural exchange and building bridges between nations.

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 Korean.