From Manila to Budapest, Korean cultural festivals ignite global interest

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is holding Korean cultural festivals globally throughout the year, centered around the Korean Cultural Centers overseas.

Visitors experiencing Korean beauty culture during the 2024 Korea Festival in Manila. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is holding Korean cultural festivals globally throughout the year, centered around the Korean Cultural Centers overseas.

The cultural centers will organize Korean cultural festivals to attract local interest, providing a venue to introduce Korean products. The festivals aim to expand interest in Korean culture and support the advancement of Korean products in the local market.

The cultural center in the Philippines held the 2024 Korea Festival in Manila from May 4 to 5. It was organized with participation from local companies and related organizations, such as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra), the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Korea Copyright Protection Agency (Kcopa).

A Korea Copyright Protection Agency (Kcopa) booth promoting copyright protection [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

Products from Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group, Amore Pacific and small- and medium-sized Korean beauty companies were exhibited. More than 5,000 people visited the venue, including great local interest.

The cultural center in Vietnam will hold a 2024 Korea Culture Day in Can Tho from Oct. 5 to 6, in collaboration with the Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation. The festival will have booths to promote Korean food, with a promotional center for Korean food distribution and purchasing companies.

The Korean cultural festival, "KoreaON," will be held in Hungary from May 18 to 19 to display and promote special products from Namhae County, South Gyeongsang. “KoreaON” will be held with local government cooperation and serves as a communication channel for Korea-related local companies, including the Budapest Korean Restaurant Council.

Poster for the Korean cultural festival, KoreaON, which will be held in Hungary, May 18 to 19. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

The Cultural Center in Spain will collaborate with the trade center of Kotra Madrid and well-known local department stores to hold the Korean Culture Festival in June. Korean fashion exhibitions will be held, introducing the latest beauty trends in Korea.

"The Cultural Center will continue to collaborate with related ministries, such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the Korean cultural festivals,” said Yong Ho-sung, head of the International Cultural Affairs and Public Relations Office of the Culture Ministry.

“We will establish a continuous network of links with related organizations, such as Kotra, and local Korean companies to greatly expand support for the overseas expansion of Korean products through culture," he said.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]