Central and South America, once seemingly untouched by the Korean wave, has recently seen a rise in the popularity of Korean pop culture, especially music and dramas. The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) invited journalists from eight different Central and South American countries to visit Korea to learn more about the local culture and society.
| KOCIS distributes information to journalists via Galaxy Tab from Samsung (Photos courtesy of Korean Culture and Information Service) |
On May 15, a total of twelve journalists from Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Venezuela, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina and Uruguay arrived in Korea as part of a KOCIS program to bring overseas journalists to Korea. Nine leading Latin American press organizations were represented, including Brazilian daily “Folha de S. Paulo” and Argentinean newsweekly “Perfil.”
The reporters stay until May 21 and take part in a one-night trip to Jeju Island, currently competing to be listed as one of New 7 Wonders of Nature, a visit to the DMZ and a press conference with the Pyeongchang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee. Visits to some of Korea’s heritage sites and cultural hubs, including Gyeongbok Palace, Insadong and the National Museum of Korea, are also planned.
| (left) South American journalists attending at the briefing session on May 16, hosted by Pyeongchang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee (right) Journalists with the director of KOCIS, Seo Kang-soo (Photos courtesy of Korean Culture and Information Service) |
On May 18, the journalists attended the “2011 High-Level Forum on Korea-Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Partnership.” Prior to the forum, they toured some of Korea’s leading multinational enterprises, including Samsung and Hyundai, who have successfully advanced into the Latin American market.
Participants also visit major media organizations like the Chosun Ilbo and Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) on May 19. Highlights of the day will include a meeting with this year’s Berlinale award-winning film director, Park Chan-wook, and a K-pop performance at “Mnet Countdown,” a weekly music show.
| (left) Visiting Gyeongbokgung (right) Reporting the natural beauty of Jeju Island (Photos courtesy of Korean Culture and Information Service) |
KOCIS Director Seo Kang-soo said that it is particularly special to see proliferation of Korean pop music and dramas in Central and South America, which has its own rich cultural heritage rooted in ancient civilizations such as the Maya, Inca and Aztecs. He added that the event was designed to give journalists better access to Korean culture and society.
Link: www.korea.net