A 140-year friendship: Cultural festivities celebrate Korea-Italy diplomatic ties

The "2024–2025 Korea-Italy Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange" started off with a sold-out gugak performance in Rome. The cultural exchange year is a celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"The Prince's Dream,” presented by Korea’s National Gugak Center, is performed at Teatro Argentina in Rome on May 4. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

"The Prince's Dream,” presented by Korea’s National Gugak Center, is performed at Teatro Argentina in Rome on May 4. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

ROME — Korea’s Culture Minister Yu In-chon dressed up in a light turquoise-colored hanbok durumagi, a traditional Korean overcoat, to greet Italians at the opening performance of "The Prince’s Dream,” presented by Korea’s National Gugak Center at Teatro Argentina in Rome on May 4.

Some 700 people quickly filled up the auditorium of the historic theater, which was constructed in 1731, to see this gugak (traditional Korean music) performance. According to the organizers, the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (Kofice), the tickets for the performance were sold at 20 to 30 euros ($21 to $32), and it was a sold out performance.

This year marks Korea and Italy’s 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and to commemorate this occasion, the countries decided to designated the years 2024 and 2025 as the “2024–2025 Korea–Italy Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange.” The performance held on May 4 was the opening performance to kick off an array of events to be held in Italy over the next two years.

"The Prince’s Dream” tells the story of a crown prince of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) as he celebrates his coming-of-age ceremony. The story is told through different traditional Korean dances, like taepyeongmu (dance featuring hand and foot movements) and salpuri (soul-purifying) dance, pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) and nongak (traditional Korean music and performance performed by farmers), for 90 minutes.

gugakCulture Minister Yu In-chon gives a toast during the opening reception of a gugak (traditional Korean music) performance "The Prince's Dream," staged at Teatro Argentina in Rome on May 4.[MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

“I think the National Gugak Center decided to present this piece, as it involves a variety of traditional Korean dances that can give a glimpse into what the traditional performances of Korea are like,” said Culture Minister Yu after giving a toast at the opening reception before the show. He added an interjection that frequently appears in pansori, “Jihwaja jota,” which loosely translates in Korean to, “It’s great!”

Malaysian ambassador to Italy Zahid Rastam, who came to watch the performance on the night, said he couldn’t help but attend after hearing that there would be “a traditional Korean performance at the historic theater, Teatro Argentina, in Rome.”

Some 700 audience members at Teatro Argentina in Rome on May 4 for the "The Prince's Dream" performance [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

“I was amazed after hearing that the tickets got sold out in 10 days,” he said, adding that he can understand why, as the show was “spectacular.”

Until next year, an array of cultural events will be carried out in both Korea and Italy. Some will involve collaborative works. One of the major programs in Italy will be a special exhibition by Italy-based Korean sculptor Park Eun-sun running from June to September. The artist is best known for working with marble, sculpting his own versions of the columns that are frequently spotted throughout Rome. Park was the winner of the prestigious Italian sculpture award Fratelli Rosselli in 2018. As part of the “2024–2025 Korea–Italy Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange," Park will be exhibiting his iconic infinite column series at different tourist attractions in Rome like the Mouth of Truth.

A business-to-consumer event for K-content is scheduled to take place in Rome in July along with various joint workshops, exhibitions and performances for young artists in different genres.

Prior to the opening performance on May 4, Yu also met up with Italian reporters at the Korean Cultural Center in Italy and said that the Culture Ministry is planning to invite several tour agencies from Italy to Korea to show them around different parts of the country to attract more tourism.

“About 1 million Koreans visit Italy a year, but the number of Italians visiting Korea is around 40,000,” said Yu. “There’s quite a lot of difference. We hope to introduce the diverse charms of Korea during the mutual cultural exchange years so that more Italians can visit Korea and discover its charms.”

Culture Minister Yu In-chon, left, and Maria Tripodi, undersecretary of state to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, sign a memorandum of understanding at the ministry's building in Rome in a bid to successfully carry out the “2024–2025 Korea–Italy Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange,” which was marks 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy, on May 3. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

A day before the opening performance, Yu met with Maria Tripodi, undersecretary of state to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and signed a memorandum of understanding to successfully carry out the cultural events in both countries.

Tripodi said, “Culture is highly regarded in Italy, therefore, it is important to share Italian culture in a country like Korea, a country that plays an important role in Asia.”

Yu said that this new bond that the two countries have formed, in the mutual exchange of culture, means that both countries have an obligation to further enhance their relationship and “hope for a new future, especially among young Koreans and Italians as they collaborate together.”

As an actor himself, Yu said he also remembers visiting different countries and meeting diverse people from across the globe.

Culture Minister Yu In-chon looks at the photographs exhibited in a special exhibit showcasing approximately 70 photographs and video materials depicting the evolution of Korean-Italian relations on Feb. 26 at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in central Seoul. The exhibition wrapped up on March 31. [YONHAP]

“As you know, my acting career began on a theater stage in 1970. I’ve spent more than 50 years of my life on stage but whenever there was a chance, I went overseas to see and learn. I also remember visiting Cinecittà Studios in Rome in the late 1980s,” he said. “It’s important for the government to create a platform and give as much support as it can, but young artists should also actively participate, try to collaborate and create joint projects and creative works.”

In 1884, when Korea was known as the Joseon Kingdom, it established diplomatic relations with Italy. Italy was the fourth country in the world to establish diplomatic ties with Korea. In 1902, an Italian consulate opened in Seoul. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, diplomatic relations were put on hold but resumed in 1956.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]