By Kim Hyelin

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Jan. 30 announced the launch of a task force to achieve the nation's second "Middle East boom" through cultural content.

On the occasion of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the new group will implement follow-up measures to the bilateral memorandum of understanding signed with the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth on cultural cooperation and offer customized support to cultural content and tourism companies seeking to enter the Mideast and their exports.

Directors of ministry divisions for culture, content, media, tourism and sports will take part as task force members. Starting with the UAE, the group will devise strategies to export Korean culture and content to Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and Africa while planning sophisticated exchange and cooperation programs for each field.

As for major plans by sector, the team will prepare to host a K-pop concert in Dubai in June and the 2023 Korea Festival, a cultural exchange event featuring K-pop shows, traditional culture performances and movie screenings, in October.

In broadcasting, a session on the Middle East will be prepared at the global convention BroadCast WorldWide slated for August in Seoul. Korea will run a joint pavilion in November at the Dubai International Content Market (DICM) in Dubai.

Exchange in books and publishing will also be expanded through participation at book fairs held in the two countries with the visiting nation as the guest of honor. Starting with an invitational performance by the traditional Korean music band ADG7 (Ak Dan Gwang Chil) at New York University's Art Center in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4, the Korean Cultural Center in the UAE capital will present traditional Korean culture.

The task force will also listen to the issues and plans of companies who were part of the economic mission of President Yoon during his state visit to the UAE and support Korean companies in culture, content and tourism to advance to the country.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon said on the task force's purpose, "We will boldly and in detail introduce our culture and content to the UAE, the cultural hub of the Middle East, to promote the spread of Hallyu (Korean Wave) in the region and lead exports of related industries through the premium effect of K-Culture."

kimhyelin211@korea.kr