The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the Africa Culture Festival from May 10-12 and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation's 25th anniversary exhibition from May 14-17 at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. Shown is a cultural concert in May last year during Africa Culture Week. (Korea-Africa Foundation's Facebook page)

By Israa Mohamed

Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul from May 10 will host festivals for a week featuring the culture and arts of Africa, East Asia and Latin America.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 7 announced its hosting at the Seoul landmark of the 2024 Africa Culture Festival from May 10-12 and Forum for East-Asia Latin America Cooperation's (FEALAC) 25th anniversary exhibition from May 14-17.

The festival's purpose is to boost public understanding and interest in Africa ahead of the Korea-Africa Summit slated from June 4-5 in Seoul.

Fifteen African embassies including those of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Egypt will participate as well as the African communities of Uganda and Burundi.

Each country's promotional booth will highlight its culture and hold programs featuring African culture like coffee tasting, fashion, exhibitions and performances.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul in his opening ceremony speech will say he hopes that next month's summit will serve as a historical milestone that opens a new chapter in cooperative ties between Korea and Africa. 

10th Latin America Festival (Seongbuk-gu District, Seoul)

The FEALAC exhibition opening on May 14 will mark the 25th anniversary of the intercontinental forum.

The venue will feature an exhibition introducing FEALAC, related activities by Korea and a photo display under the theme of the forum's member countries. Programs include a coffee truck on May 14, street performance on May 15 and quiz event on May 16.

Other events over the exhibition period include the making of fancywood, a fusion craft of producing household items by coloring in pen characters drawn on wooden semi-processed goods, keychains and eco-friendly bags.

As an intergovernmental group launched in 1999 to raise mutual understanding and cooperation between East Asia and Latin and Central America, FEALAC has 16 East Asian members including Korea, Australia, Brunei and Cambodia and 20 Latin American such as Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil.

On the left is the official poster for the Africa Culture Festival and on the right is that for FEALAC's 25th anniversary exhibition. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)