Korea's first cultural center in the Middle East is soon to be opened in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The opening of a Korean cultural center is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed in Abu Dhabi by Korea and the UAE during President Park Geun-hye's visit to the Middle East.

Korea and the UAE upgraded their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, as Korea has been building a nuclear power plant in the Middle Eastern country since December 2009. The UAE is the first nation in the Middle East to become one of Korea's strategic partners.




With the MOU, Korea will establish its cultural center in Abu Dhabi later this year, while the UAE intends to open a cultural center in Korea within a few years. These are both expected to boost bilateral cultural exchanges between the two nations.

The Korean government plans to combine arts and entertainment and advanced IT to allow visitors to watch exhibits and have cultural experiences at the cultural center in Abu Dhabi. Inside the planned cultural center, there will be a dedicated space where visitors can interact in real time with the cultural creativity conversion center in Seoul.

By Limb Jae-un
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jun2@korea.kr