Korean Non-Face-to-Face Culture 'Video Content' Gains Popularity in Russia

Namdo Culture Music Video 'Harasho' Surpasses 10,000 Views in 3 Weeks

Mokpo Cultural Foundation Promotes Using Local SNS Marketing

Homepage created in line with the promotion of non-face-to-face cultural content in Russia (Photo by Korea-Russia Cultural Silk Road Homepage capture)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seunghyun Jeong] The Mokpo Cultural Foundation’s ‘Korea-Russia Cultural Silk Road’ cultural exchange project is gaining great popularity in Russia, drawing attention as a pioneer in non-face-to-face cultural trade.

This exchange project was originally planned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Russia, featuring a fusion joint performance by Russia’s representative Glinka Boys Choir, Mokpo City Dance Company, Isu Dance Company, and the Asia Folk Music Promotion Association. However, due to COVID-19, on-site cultural exchanges were completely canceled.

In this situation, the foundation planned a non-face-to-face online cultural exchange to overcome cultural disconnection between countries and built a website in Russian, English, and Korean to help understand the culture of the Namdo region.

The foundation first promoted videos of the Russian Glinka Choir through domestic SNS and YouTube, produced five Namdo folk song music videos and five videos explaining Korean culture, and uploaded them on YouTube and the website.

Additionally, these videos were made into USB photo albums, and QR-code leaflets that allow video viewing by scanning with a smartphone were produced and sent to Russia, diversifying the non-face-to-face promotion of Korean culture.

In particular, video promotion using local SNS was sufficient to attract interest in Korean culture, and the easily understandable local language subtitles enhanced the quality of the video content, receiving favorable reviews from local residents.

Furthermore, an educational video by Irina, a former bank manager from Vladivostok, Russia, clearly explained ‘the current Korean Wave culture and the commonalities between Russian and Korean cultures.’

Seongjusin performance music video that recorded 10,000 views in Russia within two weeks of release (Photo by YouTube capture)

Especially, the music video ‘Dance for Seongjusin’ captures the performance of the household deity Seongjusin depicted in the movie ‘Along with the Gods 2,’ which achieved a mythic 10 million viewers. As the movie is also popular in Russia, the video’s views exceeded those of other videos by tenfold, creating a ripple effect.

Meanwhile, this Korea-Russia international exchange became an opportunity for artists from both countries to learn about and communicate with each other’s cultures.

The Mokpo Cultural Foundation is expected to broaden mutual understanding between Korea and Russia through private exchanges and diplomacy across various fields such as economy, education, and culture, ultimately contributing to national economic development and the promotion of friendship between the two countries.

Recently, with the successful acquisition of a large-scale domestic public project, Mokpo’s city brand value has greatly increased, and the need for diverse international exchanges that citizens can tangibly experience has significantly grown both domestically and internationally.

Accordingly, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Korea-Russia diplomatic relations, cooperation in various fields such as culture, tourism, and economy with sister and friendly cities in Russia is being strengthened, establishing a turning point for mutual understanding and respect between Mokpo and Saint Petersburg through interactive exchanges.

From a long-term perspective, various programs will be developed and operated to efficiently carry out international exchange activities, building and managing a comprehensive information system to accumulate and utilize data and information.

Going forward, the scope of exchange activities will be expanded through various face-to-face and non-face-to-face programs suited to the times.

In particular, international exchanges in the private sector will be gradually expanded to meet the internationalization demands of citizens, students, companies, universities, and private institutions, while continuously discovering and developing international exchange projects that reflect Mokpo’s unique characteristics and enhance its tangible and intangible city brand.

Jumin Kwan, Secretary-General of the Mokpo Cultural Foundation, requested, “This Korea-Russia international exchange is the crystallization of the harmony between performing arts and traditional culture sublimated into art. We ask for the continuous interest and participation of citizens so that Mokpo can establish itself as a leading global city in the world through this international exchange.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.