Seoul Lights Up for the Holiday Season - Korea.net

GLOBAL KOREA
Korean Culture
Introduced to South America
Traditional musician Ahn Sook-sun
Pianist Kim Sun-wook
AKorean Music and Film Festival, held in Sao Paulo
on Nov. 11, ended with a positive response from audiences.
Sponsored by the Korean Culture and
Information Service (KOIS), the event was attended by 350
guests including Brazilian government officials, diplomats
and Korean expatriates living there.
Renowned traditional musician Ahn Sook-sun performed
“Shimcheong-ga,” one of the most well-known
Korean pansori songs, which was also designated as part
of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage category. Amid the
cheers of the audience, she also sang the song “Arirang.”
Pianist Kim Sun-wook, who is currently working in
London, played Schumann’s Kinderszenen (Scenes from
Childhood) and Beethoven’s Sonata No. 31. The audience
applauded the 20-year-old piano prodigy for his brilliant
performances.
During the event, Korean traditional food was also provided
for participants to experience Korean culinary culture.
Several cultural events were held to introduce Korean
culture to South American countries to commemorate the
16th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit,
which took place in Lima, Peru, in November, with the
participation of President Lee Myung-bak.
Before the Lima event, some Korean films screened on
Oct. 30 and 31 and performances by the National Theater
were presented on Nov. 3, both in Santiago, Chile.
“Chile, Brazil and Peru have a 50-year history of diplomatic
relations with Korea,” said Chung In-kyu, an official
at KOIS. “These cultural events were prepared to reaffirm
the friendship with those three South American countries
before the APEC summit.”
On Nov. 7 and 8, Korean films were also shown to
Peruvians at the Korean Cultural Center. ■
‘These cultural events were
prepared to reaffirm the
friendship with those three
South American countries
before the APEC summit.’
18 KOREA DECEMBER 2008
DECEMBER 2008 KOREA 19