By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Korea Masters Association (KMA) was established to preserve traditional Korean culture and arts, reinterpreting and developing them for modern times. The organization spreads the social value of traditional skills and arts through the discovery and support of masters, education, and promotion activities. The importance of preserving traditional culture and the role of Korea Masters Association Korea has a long history of developing traditional culture and technology, producing numerous masters. However, rapid modernization and industrialization have threatened to
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The K-folk painting project, which reinterprets the beauty and value of traditional Korean folk paintings in a modern way, has been launched at Myongji University in Seoul and is attracting great attention. The theme of the project, “K-folk painting heralds the beginning in Myeongji,” is an ambitious attempt to promote Korean folk painting culture to the world and establish it as a global cultural content, showcasing a unique artistic world that blends tradition and innovation. K-folk painting project to globalize traditional Korean folk paintings Myeongji is a r
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Cheongryongdo traditionally symbolizes the east and is a representation of the Blue Dragon (靑龍), which signifies the beginning of life, growth, and new birth. In Eastern philosophy and the Five Elements of thought, the east is the direction of the wood, which represents spring and is associated with the season of renewal. The Blue Dragon is an animal that appears in spring and is depicted as a being that controls the winds and keeps the energies of nature in harmony. The blue dragon painting is depicted with a double-headed dragon with a long tongue sticking out,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On the occasion of the celebrations of 140 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Korea and within the framework of the Year of Cultural Exchange between Italy and Korea proclaimed by two countries, the Italian Embassy in Seoul, the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul and the Korea Foundation are hosting the exhibition MOSAICO. Italian code of a timeless art from November 15, 2024 to February 28, 2025 at the KF Gallery. An unprecedented multimedia exhibition to tell the stories of Italy through the precious testimonies of a timeless expressive code: th
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The K-folk painting Chocheongdo 草蟲圖 is a genre of Korean folk paintings that traditionally depicts grasses and insects, and is characterized by the lively representation of small creatures to capture the harmony and beauty of nature. Damwha explains that it is a modernized version of the Korean folk painting, which can be interpreted as the following interesting stories. The legend of the lost Hanji (韓紙) A long time ago, in a village deep in the forests of Korea, there was a special paper called hanji (韓紙). It was said to capture the energy of the grass, bugs, an
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Shinhan University hosted the Kazakhstan Film Festival, attracting students, media representatives, and academics from South Korea on Nov. 13~14, 2024. In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov highlighted the significance of the festival as a symbol of strong friendship and cultural exchange between Kazakhstan and Korea. Nurgali Arystanov spoke about Kazakhstan’s flourishing film industry since gaining independence, emphasizing that selecting films for the festival was no easy task. In honor of the 800th anniversary of the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The second World Pansori Festival was held on a stage in Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul from Nov. 1-3, 2024. People from many countries gathered to see 129 singers decorate the stage through 43 various programs at the festival, the Korea.net reported. The inaugural section Global Pansori, which features foreign singers of the genre, proved to be a huge draw with its opening performance. The Ojakgyo Bridge Project, a team of pansori enthusiasts from the U.S., U.K., Malaysia, China and Japan, sang the short song "Life of 100 Years" and the tune "Ssukdaemeori" f
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee A special exhibition of New Year's paintings (Sehwa), traditional paintings to ward off evil spirits and wish for good fortune, “Welcome to the New Year” (Byeoksachobok 辟邪招福) will be held at the Museum of Korean Art in Insa-dong, Seoul. The exhibition is co-hosted by the monthly K-Folk Painting and Diplomacy Journal, the World Peace Art Exhibition Organizing Committee, and the K-Folk Painting Research Institute, and is supported by the UN Journal, Citizen Administration Newspaper, K-Culture, Korea Culture, Damwha Cultural Foundation, K-Culture Promotion Foundatio
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Author Shin Kyung-ae, whose novel Strange Albergue tells the story of finding answers to life's problems through fantasy techniques, has now published an art practical book on the theme of celebrities. The Entertainers is a textbook and guidebook for those who dream of becoming an entertainer, and it seriously deals with the reality of the entertainment industry, problems, and social concerns from the perspective of a parent. In particular, this book is expected to be a guide that combines both fun and practicality, as many people dream of becoming an entertainer
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Tashkent, Uzbekistan—Managing Editor Lee Kap-soo of Diplomacy Journal and UN Journal, visited Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan to cover 2024 Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections at the invitation of the Uzbek government through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul, the Republic of Korea. Lee visited several popular tourism places, traditional market and restaurants in Tashkent. –Ed. The writer visited some popular places in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, after finishing the polling place coverage of the 2024 Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections. After visiti
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee In commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Kazakhstan, the 51st International Cultural and Art Exchange Exhibition will be held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, on the second floor of the Korea Art Museum in Insa-dong, Seoul. Celebrating the deep cultural ties and exchanges between the two countries, the exhibition brings together Korean and Kazakh photographs and artworks, both traditional and contemporary. The event is co-hosted by Nurgali Arystanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Korea, and Lee Jon-young, Chairman of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Harmony in Symbols Collective event, led by Han, ESI Yuri, aims to build libraries in Africa. Related to this, Artist Park Jung-min donated her works to the project. “The project aims to build libraries in African countries every year. This year, as the first of many, we are focusing on Ghana. The idea is to display and sell artworks that feature Ghanaian symbols, with the proceeds going towards the construction of a library,” said Artist Park Jung-min in an interview with Diplomacy Journal. Artist Park said, “When I learned about this, I was deeply moved b
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young The World Masters Committee, led by Chairman Kim Min Chaon, hosted a grand event, “World Masters Committee Culture Day 2024 - International Culture Day 2024,” to share its vision of a world united by culture and the arts. The event, which was attended by more than 270 people from some 40 foreign embassies in Seoul, Korean world masters, culture-related celebrities, was an international cultural exchange event organized by the World Masters Committee for a better future. The committee, which began its activities in 2007, has established an international cultur
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The '2024 Sinchon World Youth Festival' was held in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from September 27 to 29, 2024, marking the second such event following last year's success. This festival, hosted by Seodaemun-gu Office, provided a valuable opportunity for young people from various countries to come together, experience each other's cultures, and share new experiences. A notable highlight of this year's event was the participation of the Embassy of Ghana in Korea. The event was planned and organized by Mr. Akwasi Abayie Adomako, Deputy Head of Mission, and Public Relatio
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The 6th International Diplomatic and Cultural PR Ambassadors Hanbok Festival, which was held at I-VEX Studio in Gwangmyeong City on Oct. 15, ended successfully with attendance of more than 80 models and 500 guests, including foreign ambassadors and their spouses who also played as models. Among foreign models who appeared on the stage in traditional costumes from their respective countries were spouses of ambassadors of Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Turkmenistan, Russia, Belarus, Côte d'Ivoire, and Tajikistan. Delivering welcoming address, Kim Kwang-ja, CEO