By Honorary Reporter Dayviana Diaz from Cuba
Photos = Dayviana Diaz

The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, releases an annual desk calendar to promote and disseminate information about Korea. 

I was surprised by the design of the 2024 edition after seeing it on social media; it was inspired by one of my favorite aspects of Korean culture: traditional wooden furniture.

The 2022 KOCIS calendar displays beautiful illustrations by renowned Korean webtoon artists showing the culture and important developments of Korean society. 

My first gift from Korea.net

The first calendar I received as a gift from KOCIS was back in 2021. I was so happy because it was recognition for my activities as an Honorary Reporter in the previous year. The calendar was also a special edition as 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of KOCIS.

 
The design theme was "Happy Together with Korea" to celebrate the milestone and show the activities of Korean Cultural Centers (KCC) around the world. I loved the photo for each month displaying aspects of Korean culture, ranging from sports, crafts, cooking and dancing to modern elements like technology, reunification of the Korean Peninsula, film and K-pop. This calendar was available for downloaded online and each page contained a QR code that connected to each KCC's website to provide more information on a subject. 

The cherry on top was a letter from the KOCIS chief that came with the calendar expressing his wish for more interest in Korean culture. 

The 2023 calendar featured beautiful tourism destinations to promote Korea around the world.

Illustrated calendar on everyday life
In late 2021, I was named among the best Honorary Reporters of the year and received the 2022 KOCIS calendar. Its theme was Korea's "evolution into a global phenomenon and part of everyday life" to show the global popularity of Hallyu (Korean Wave) and Korean content. I loved this calendar because of its concept of webtoons and illustrations and use of visuals.

With Korea a world leader in webtoons, 12 acclaimed professionals in the field were chosen to share their illustrations of the best of Korean culture such as traditions, beauty, medical services and smart cities.

The 2024 calendar shows the traditional beauty of Korean culture and a design including products featuring the KOCIS mascot Kocnuni.

Touching the soul

Though I couldn't get a hard copy of the 2023 calendar, I downloaded on Korea.net a digital copy, which was a new monthly mobile calendar featuring the KOCIS mascot Kocnuni, a white bird character. 

Under the slogan "Let Korea's Charm Touch Your Soul," this edition displayed 12 leading tourist attractions that I dream of visiting in Korea including Busan, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, and Mokpo Marine Cable Car in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do Province, and Purple Bridge on Purple Island in Sinan-gun County, Jeollanam-do. 

Highly meaningful gift
This year, I was one of 140 Honorary Reporters chosen to receive the 2024 calendar, which to me is the most visually beautiful of the ones I've seen because of its theme of traditional wooden furniture. Each page features items like a soban (small dining table) and seoan (traditional reading table). 

Unlike previous ones, this calendar also came with 36 stickers of the adorable Kocnuni featuring aspects of Korean culture such as K-pop, taekwondo, Hangeul and even dalgona (honeycomb candy), a popular dessert.

jihlee08@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.