By Jung Joo-ri
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon on Nov. 26 told United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi in bilateral talks that Korean culture will be part of the process of the UAE's development of a vision for culture.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Nov. 28 quoted Minister Park as saying at the meeting, "We support the UAE's efforts to achieve another miracle in the desert through culture, and Korea is also developing its cultural content sector by combining information technology with storytelling that connects the traditional and contemporary."

Minister Al Kaabi said, "Because the UAE is also strategically developing its cultural industry, I hope for stronger bilateral cooperation in the cultural content and technology sectors," adding, "I hope for a variety of active interpersonal exchanges focused on the film sector."

Based on their discussions, both sides agreed to use the UAE, which has a Korean Cultural Center, as a base of cultural exchange and dissemination, the ministry said. It also pledged to pursue specific projects with the UAE to expand efforts in cultural content like being guest country of honor at next year's Sharjah International Book Fair, holding personnel exchanges in cinema and utilizing stronger inter-museum cooperation. 

Minister Park on the same day visited the Abu Dhabi branch of King Sejong Institute, which teaches Korean language and culture, at the Korean Cultural Center. The students there asked him to expand the supply of Korean-language books in the UAE, set up a regular educational curriculum on Korean culture and history, and display more Korean artifacts at exhibitions there.

Minister Park said he would strive to fulfill these requests as soon as possible.

etoilejr@korea.kr