Korean festival & culture center to open in Africa

With the 2010 FIFA South African World Cup just around the corner, the Korean government is taking advantage of the high spirits to launch a Korean Culture Festival in Africa.

The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), an organ of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will host seven big events in five cities in four African nations: Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa, Abuja in Nigeria, Izmir in Turkey and Cairo in Egypt.

The festivities, which will run from May 20 to June 2, will introduce a wide range of traditional and modern performances from Korea, including traditional drum dances and percussion playing, break dancing, taekwondo demonstrations and fusion music.

Throughout the festival, KOCIS will screen various promotional films on Korea, including relating to its bid to host another World Cup, following that of 2002 with Japan. There will also be joint performances by Korean and local performing troupes.

As the year 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Nigeria, there will be a commemorative ceremony on May 24 – the grand opening of the Korea Culture Center in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, the first of its kind in Africa. It will kick off with a Korean Food Festival with some 250 key officials and ambassadors present. Korean folk games and other big stage performances will follow.


In Turkey there will be a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War (1950-53). Turkey sent the second largest number of troops to Korea to help put an end to the communist invasion, and the commemoration will begin with a silent prayer, followed by the national anthems of both countries. Veterans will be invited to the stage and receive gifts.

A Korean Film Festival will be held in Egypt from June 1 to 4. Some recent hit Korean movies like “Old Partner” (2008) and “Lifting King Kong” (2009) will be screened in the Cairo Opera House.

“We plan to make a full use of our colorful cultural content to make a big impression in Africa,” said one KOCIS official. “This event will contribute greatly to upgrading Korea’s image.”

Schedule for Korean Culture Festival :

South African Republic
(City: Pretoria)
ZK Matthews Great Hall, UNISA
May 20
19:00-21:00

South African Republic
(City: Cape Town)
Outdoor stage of V&A Waterfront Theater
May 22
17:00-18:00

Nigeria
(City: Abuja)
Studio Room & Taekwondo Class Room at Korea Culture Center
May 24
17:00-18:00

Nigeria
(City: Abuja)
Lady Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel
May 25
18:00 - 20:00

Turkey
(City: Izmir)
Konak Square
May 28
18:30-21:30

Turkey
(City: Izmir)
Ismet Inonu Cultural Center at Izmir International Exhibition Center
May 29
19:30 – 21:30

Egypt
(City: Cairo)
The Opera House
June 2
21:00 – 23:00