Kim Geon-hee Visits Saudi Royal Institute of Traditional Arts... "Culture is the Core Foundation of Bilateral Cooperation"

Observation of Practical Training Sites Including Saudi Weaving Craft 'Al Sadu' Production

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia with President Yoon Suk-yeol, stated on the 22nd (local time) that "the core foundation of cooperation between the two countries lies in culture."

On the afternoon of the same day, at the invitation of the Saudi side, Kim visited the Saudi Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and said, "Cultural exchange between Korea and Saudi Arabia means sharing the future together," according to a written briefing by Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office.

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, which opened in 2021 with the goal of preserving and developing Saudi traditional culture, operates education, training, and academic programs. Recently, the institute invited Korean ceramic painting artists to hold a workshop and signed an academic exchange memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, serving as a bridge for Korea-Saudi cultural cooperation. Kim emphasized, "These cooperative projects will contribute to the development of traditional cultural arts in both countries and promote exchange and cooperation among future generations."

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia with President Yoon Suk-yeol, tried on a bag made by a craftsman of 'Al Sadu,' a traditional Saudi woven fabric, during her visit to the Saudi Royal Institute of Traditional Arts on the 22nd (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Officials from the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts introduced Kim to Saudi traditional craft programs using materials such as clay, metal, wood, and textiles, as well as education and training related to traditional arts. Kim encouraged the institute's activities, saying, "Preserving traditional culture is preserving a nation's identity." She added, "Just as K-pop well embodies the spirit of Korean traditional culture, I hope Saudi Arabia will also further develop cultural content based on its traditional culture."

Kim toured the hands-on workshops at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, including stone carving, pottery making, and the traditional weaving craft 'Al Sadu.' Al Sadu is a traditional handwoven craft mainly practiced by Bedouin women and was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020, led by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Watching the Al Sadu production process, Kim expressed her admiration, saying, "I can feel the dedication in every single stitch made by hand."

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts expressed gratitude for Kim's direct visit encouraging cultural exchange between Korea and Saudi Arabia and presented her with a commemorative clay cup engraved with the shape of the Diriyah heritage site and an 'Al Sadu' cellphone pouch.

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