By Honorary Reporter Dayviana Diaz from Cuba

Photos = Dayviana Diaz

This year's K-Culture Festival in Havana, Cuba, from April 9-12 mark the first anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Cuba with four days of cultural exchange and collaboration.

While the two sides officially formed diplomatic relations on Feb. 14 last year, cultural exchange had been going on for years before. Held at Room 1930 of the iconic National Hotel of Cuba, which once hosted Winston Churchill and Jimmy Carter, the event was hosted by the Seoul-based Baikbong Research Institute for Politics, Culture, and Education and organized in collaboration with the Cuban Ministry of Culture, University of Havana and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples. 

Support came from the Korean Embassy in Havana and Cuban Embassy in Seoul, along with the Institute of Latin American Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and cultural organizations including the Korea-Cuba Cultural Friendship Association and Korean Art Cultural Project of Cuba, a cultural organization operated by Cuban fans of Hallyu (Korean Wave), and descendants of Korean immigrants in Cuba.

Representatives of the Hallyu (Korean Wave) community in Cuba and Korean filmmakers on April 9 discuss the impact and reception of Korean media in the island country.

The festival opened with a roundtable discussion on the theme "Entertainment Industries: K-Wave" featuring Kang Je-kyu, director of blockbusters like "Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War" (2004) and "Shiri" (1999), and K-drama producers. The topic was the growing popularity of Hallyu in Cuba and collaboration between the entertainment industries of both countries.

Professors from both countries on April 10 share their insights on socio-cultural exchanges.

The event's second day featured academic conferences on socio-cultural exchanges, highlighted by presentations by professor Shim Doo-bo of Sungshin Women's University and professor Astrid Santana of the University of Havana. The day concluded with a screening of "Road to Boston" (2023), a film by Kang about Korean runners in the 1947 Boston Marathon.

On the third day, a presentation by Martha Lim Kim, a retired university professor and the leader of the ethnic Korean community in Cuba, covered the history of Korean immigration to Cuba since 1921, followed by Kang's master class and industry talks on potential bilateral media collaborations. 

Baikbong chief Ra Jong-yil delivered the closing ceremony speech on "Promise of Reunion."

The Taste of K-Food festival on April 12 closed the event by offering popular Korean dishes such as bibimbap (spicy rice with mixed vegetables), miyeokguk (seaweed soup), tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cake) and choco pie.

The festival concluded on April 12 with the festival Taste of K-Food, a culinary celebration at Casa de la Amistad in Havana featuring traditional dishes, symbolizing the harmony between both cultures.

Ambassador to Cuba Lee Ho-yul said, "We're taking the first step on a path that we'll travel together to strengthen bilateral relations. We're not just commemorating the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we're making history."

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.