Ministry of Culture Supports Cultural Exchange Between Domestic and Overseas Universities... Expanding K-Culture in Regions Without Korean Cultural Centers

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on April 29 that it will launch the "Harmony Korean Culture Festival University Support Program," which supports domestic and overseas universities in holding Korean cultural events in regions without Korean Cultural Centers abroad.

This initiative, organized together with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, aims to revitalize international cultural exchanges and promote the spread of K-culture. The program is designed to establish a foundation for K-culture in regions lacking Korean Cultural Centers, and to encourage direct participation by overseas university students. By doing so, it seeks to expand the scope of the Korean Wave beyond the current focus on K-pop and dramas to include academic exchanges and other fields.

원본보기 아이콘

The participating universities were selected through a comprehensive evaluation of their foundation for exchange and cooperation with overseas universities, program planning and execution capabilities, as well as the sustainability and ripple effects of their proposed projects. As a result, nine universities were chosen: Kyonggi University (with Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan), Keimyung University (with University of Economics and Finance in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang National University of Education, Vietnam), Keukdong University (with IDM Nations University, Sri Lanka), Nazarene University (with Tarlac State University, Philippines), Yonsei University (with University of Edinburgh, UK), Chugye University for the Arts (with Ningbo University, China), Korea National University of Arts (with Medellin ITM Municipal University, Colombia), Hansung University (with Erciyes University, Turkiye), and Hanyang University (with Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, China).

Going forward, the selected universities in Korea will collaborate with their overseas counterparts to plan and host a variety of Korean cultural events locally, such as performances, exhibitions, and seminars. There will also be a wide range of hands-on experience programs, including original musicals, traditional instrument collaborations, Taekwondo, Hangeul, and K-beauty experiences.

A representative from the Ministry stated, "The Harmony Korean Culture Festival Program was designed so that a variety of organizations, in addition to overseas Korean Cultural Centers, can participate in its implementation," adding, "We will support the stable execution of Korean cultural events planned based on the autonomy and creativity of the universities."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.