Video footage of Korean Embassy to India staff performing "Naatu Naatu" from the original sound track to the Indian film "RRR" (Rise, Roar, Revolt), went viral and receives enthusiastic responses in India. The photo is part of the video featuring Ambassador Chang Jae-bok and his staff from the embassy's Twitter account posted on Feb. 26. (Screen capture from the embassy's Twitter account)

By Yoon Sojung

A video of a cover dance featuring the ambassador and staff of the Korean embassy to India has won a lot of praise in that country.

The 53-second video reenacts a group dance in a scene with the original sound track "Naatu Naatu" from the Indian film "RRR" (Rise, Roar, Revolt) which was a box office hit last year.

In a Twitter post on Feb. 26, the Korean Embassy in New Delhi said, "We are happy to share with you the Korean Embassy's Naatu Naatu dance cover." 

"See Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok along with the embassy staff Naatu Naatu!!"

In the video, Ambassador Chang and embassy staff, both Indian and Korean, show off their dance moves everywhere around the embassy and the Korean Cultural Center in India. They also wear various outfits, not only suits, but also traditional clothing from both countries, and taekwondo uniforms, creating a unique atmosphere of cultural diversity.

On its Feb. 26 release, the video hit more than 3.5 million views, and as of 8 a.m. Feb. 28, the video has had more 4.38 million views with 7,522 retweets.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared the video on Feb. 26 on his Twitter feed, calling it a "lively and adorable team effort."

Foreign media outlets such as the U.K.’s BBC and CNN of the U.S. as well as Indian media such as the Hindustan Times have also published major coverage of the video. 

In interviews with Korean media, including the Chosun Ilbo, Ambassador Chang said, “As the original sound track video of the film hit more than 100 million views, we decided to create the video after a staff member proposed that we perform the dance."

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of Korea-India diplomatic relations," said the diplomat. "We know Indians love K-pop and Korean films so much, so we hoped to show Indians that we also enjoy and love Indian culture as well."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared and praised the "Naatu Naatu" dance video footage of the Korean Embassy to India as "lively and adorable team effort" on his Twitter account on Feb. 26. (Screen capture from Prime Minister Modi's Twitter)

arete@korea.kr