November to Remember: 75 Years of Friendship Through Music, Art, and Cultural Exchange In celebration of 75 years of friendship between Korea and the Philippines, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines is delighted to present a series of exciting cultural events this November. These events highlight the shared connection between the two nations through music, traditional craftsmanship, and cultural exchange. Join us for a memorable lineup of performances, exhibitions, and workshops that will showcase the rich heritage of both countries.        Harmony at 75: A Celebration of Philippine-Korean Friendship Through Music (November 15, 2024, 5:00 PM | Leandro Locsin Auditorium, NCCA Building, Intramuros, Manila) Experience a one-of-a-kind evening as Korea’s all-female percussion ensemble, Groove&, brings a delicate yet powerful performance at the Leandro Locsin Auditorium, National Commission for Culture and the Arts in Intramuros. Groove& will be joined by two of the Philippines' top traditional music groups, the University of the Philippines Tugtugang Musika Asyatika (UP TUGMA) and Padayon Rondalla, who will perform beloved Filipino classical tunes. This musical collaboration is a follow-up to last year’s successful “Cultural Crescendo” concert, celebrating cultural exchange through music. Co-presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the event is free, but seats are limited. Reserve your seats now: bit.ly/Harmony75RegistrationLink Bonus Performance: Catch these talented musicians again at the Pinoy Playlist 2024 on November 16, 5:00 PM along 5th Ave. of Bonifacio High Street —-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maedeup, Korean Knots (November 22, 2024 ~ January 29, 2025 | The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, The M, BGC, Taguig) Discover the timeless beauty of Maedeup or traditional Korean knot in this special exhibition, hosted by the National Folk Museum of Korea, at The M in BGC. Running from November 22, 2024, to January 29, 2025, the exhibit showcases intricate handmade knots that have adorned Korean clothing, accessories, furniture, and ceremonial objects for centuries. This two-month-long exhibition is free, and no pre-registration is needed. On November 22 and 23, you can also take part in the “Traditional Korean Knot Bracelet Making” workshop, which will be held in the exhibit area. Open to individuals aged 20 and above, this free workshop provides an opportunity to learn the artistry of Maedeup firsthand. Secure your workshop slot now: bit.ly/MaedeupKoreanKnotsWorkshopRegistration —-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philippines-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival 2024 (November 23, 2024, 5:00 PM | Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City) The Philippines-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival returns on November 23, 2024, at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City, bringing together vibrant performances and cultural contests. Hosted by the United Korean Community Association in the Philippines (UKCA), this annual event kicks off with a lively parade before moving to the Aliw Theater for performances from invited groups, including S.D.G. (Show Design Group), known for their Media TRON Performance, which uses LED technology to create a dazzling visual spectacle. The festival also features the final round of a cultural performance contest, where Koreans perform Filipino traditional acts and Filipinos showcase Korean performances, celebrating the cultural fusion of the two nations. This event is free and open to all. For more details, visit: PhilKor Cultural Exchange Festival Facebook Page These November events are part of the year-long celebration of 75 years of diplomatic friendship between Korea and the Philippines, fostering deeper cultural ties and mutual appreciation. The center also has the ongoing “Reinterpreting Hangeul in the Modern Era” exhibit, hosted by the National Hangeul Museum of Korea and a monthly “Hangeul Calligraphy Workshop” in line with the exhibit which will be open until February 2025—more details when you visit KCC’s social media channels. We look forward to welcoming you to our festivities!

75th Anniversary of Korea-Philippines Diplomatic Relations : K-Culture and Arts Education in Manila, Philippines Completion of 2024 Philippine Cultural and Arts Education Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program - 252 participants, including artists, teachers, children, and adolescents from the Tondo area, a slum district in Manila - A two-week program featuring various cultural arts education activities, including training, workshops, and culminating presentation - An exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines showcasing upcycled works created by local children ◆ Customized Training and Workshops for 252 Participants, Including Filipino Artists, Teachers, Children, and Adolescents Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (Minister Yu In-chon) and the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service (President Park Eun-sil) Successfully Complete the 2024 Philippines Cultural Arts Education Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program from September 23 (Monday), the two-week-long 2024 Philippines Cultural Arts Education ODA program was successfully completed. Launched in 2013 starting with Vietnam, the Cultural Arts Education ODA program is designed to enhance the cultural arts education capacity of developing countries. Based on Korea's unique expertise in cultural arts education and its years of experience in international development cooperation in the arts sector, the program supports the strengthening of cultural arts education capabilities in developing countries. As of 2024, the program is being implemented in three countries—Mongolia, Indonesia, and the Philippines—providing customized cultural arts education training and workshops for children and adolescents. .  The 2024 Philippines Cultural Arts Education ODA program was conducted in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). It was held in Tondo, Manila, where the waste landfill issue is serious, targeting a total of 252 local teachers, artists, children, and adolescents, offering training, workshops, a成果-sharing session, and an exhibition. First, a training program was held for local artists and public school teachers. Four experts in Korean cultural arts education were dispatched to the region to provide a variety of programs, including: ▲ training on science, technology, and art integration with a focus on upcycling, and ▲ development of cultural arts education programs for local children and adolescents. Through these programs, they shared their educational expertise.  Next, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) workshop using light and shadow, as well as an upcycling arts education workshop addressing the waste landfill issue in Tondo, were held for 222 local children and adolescents at public schools and care centers in the area. On October 4, aculminating presentation was held, where about 60 participants gathered to discuss the outcomes of the training and workshops. Dennis Marasigan, Deputy Director and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), who attended the culminating presentation, expressed, “Through the Cultural Arts Education ODA program, we were able to combine the Philippines’ rich cultural arts resources with Korea’s expertise in arts education. This will provide a better future for children and adolescents,” and expressed a desire for continued collaboration with the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service. ◆ Exhibition of Cultural Arts Education ODA Outcomes to Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Korea-Philippines Diplomatic Relations To commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines, the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service (KACES) will hold an exhibition showcasing the outcomes of the Cultural Arts Education ODA program. The exhibition, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (Director Kim Myeong-jin), will be open until November 4 at the Korean Cultural Center Library. The exhibit will feature a variety of works created by children and adolescents from the Tondo area, focusing on STEAM and upcycling themes. It will also include interviews with participating artists, teachers, children, and adolescents, as well as video sketches from the program.  Director Kim Myeong-jin of the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines stated, “This exhibition highlights the process and outcomes of delivering a message of hope through Korea’s cultural arts education to marginalized children and adolescents in the Philippines. It will serve as a meaningful cultural exchange event in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Korea-Philippines diplomatic relations.”  President Park Eun-sil of KACES remarked, “Through the Philippines ODA project, we have seen the positive impact of K-culture arts education on the local community. Moving forward, we will continue to expand international development cooperation projects that incorporate local culture and arts, striving to further the global spread of Korean cultural arts education.” Origin: 한국문화예술교육진흥원 국제교류팀(https://www.arte.or.kr/information/report/ReportData_BoardView.do?board_id=BRD_ID0066458)

PROJECT YOSO Lights Up KCC, K-Culture Box Unveiled The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) was filled with excitement as PROJECT YOSO brought down the house with an unforgettable live performance last October 29, 2024. This unique musical showcase captivated the audience with a diverse medley of hits, covering classics from The Beatles, popular K-pop tracks, and holiday favorites, giving guests an early taste of Christmas cheer. The event also included a much-anticipated unboxing of four K-culture boxes, a collaboration with Korea's National Folk Museum. These carefully curated boxes, now on display at KCC’s ground floor, are brimming with artifacts and items representing Korea's rich traditions and contemporary culture. The four K-culture boxes is now available for viewing at the KCC’s ground floor! These boxes will also be moved to different places and will enhance the cultural experience at different events the center will host in the next years. The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines continues to bring authentic Korean experiences closer to Filipino audiences and further strengthens the bond between the two nations through cultural exchange. For more information, visit the KCC Philippines website or follow us on social media to stay updated on the center’s activities.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yoo In-chon) and the National Hangeul Museum (Director Kim Il-hwan), in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (Director Kim Myeong-jin), successfully held a series of events in Manila, Philippines, to promote the value of Hangeul culture. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines, the National Hangeul Museum’s overseas exhibition, Hangeul Design Project –Reinterpreting Hangeul In The Modern Era, opened on September 5 at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines. The event was attended by prominent figures from various sectors in the Philippines, including Eric B. Zerrudo, Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Jeremy Bams, Director of the National Museum of the Philippines, Lee Sang-hwa, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, and Son Ji-ae, Ambassador for Cultural Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ▴ A view of the opening event of Hangeul Design Project –Reinterpreting Hangeul In The Modern Era ▴ A view of Hangeul Design Project –Reinterpreting Hangeul In The Modern Era At the exhibition, visitors can experience various works symbolizing the role of Hangeul as a window to a new world, such as <한HAN글文> (Han Hae-yeong), which represents this concept symbolically, and <됴찬쇼> (Lee Seul-gi), which uses various accessories to create words. The exhibition features graphic design, furniture, crafts, fashion, and video works, all of which will be on display at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines until February 28 of next year. ▴A group photo of the participants in the The Beauty of Hangeul Calligraphy workshop. During the exhibition, a total of nine sessions of the Hangeul cultural experience program, <손으로 꽃피우는 한글> (The Beauty of Hangeul Calligraphy), will be offered to Sejong Institute students, general Korean language learners, and on-site participants in the Philippines. The program, which began even before the opening of the exhibition, is being directly organized and conducted by the Research and Education Division of the National Hangeul Museum. By using modern Hangeul calligraphy techniques, participants will have the opportunity to create their own Hangeul artworks, allowing them to experience the beauty of the Korean script. ▴The curator of the Manila Clark Tower Museum presenting at the symposium held in conjunction with the exhibition. Meanwhile, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines held a symposium on the topic "The New Roles and Functions of 21st Century Museums" in conjunction with the exhibition opening. Kim Eun-jae, a researcher at the National Hangeul Museum, and Kim Gyu-rin, another researcher, made presentations on the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines will continue to promote the exhibition and Korean culture through various exhibition-related programs and events, including audience participation activities and guided tours for invited visitors, which will be held monthly.

Korean Cultural Center at the 2024 Manila International Book Fair Spotlight on Korean Literature with Award-Winning Author Park Sang Young The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines proudly participated in this year's Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), continuing its mission to promote Korean culture and literature. As a key highlight of the event, KCC brought acclaimed Korean author Park Sang Young, whose novel Love in the Big City was long-listed for the 2022 International Booker Prize. Alongside these enriching literary discussions, KCC also featured a special KCC Library Pop-up at the MIBF. Visitors were invited to explore Korean culture through K-pop, K-drama memorabilia, and interactive activities. Park's visit from September 11 to 15, 2024, was a major literary event, providing readers and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to engage with one of Korea's most celebrated contemporary authors. His activities at the MIBF included a series of talks, discussions, and book signings that captivated a wide range of audiences. On September 12, the KCC Library hosted an intimate media forum with Park, attended by members of the press, KCC Book Club, and Honorary Reporters from Korea.net. This forum explored Love in the Big City, delving into its characters, themes, and the raw emotions that define the novel. Park offered insights into his creative process, providing a behind-the-scenes look into how he crafted such a powerful narrative. Following this, Park delivered an inspiring talk at Ateneo de Manila University’s Rizal Library on September 13. He discussed his journey from facing early criticism to rising as a best-selling author, offering valuable lessons in resilience and authenticity that resonated deeply with the student audience.  On September 14, Park took center stage at the Manila International Book Fair for a special talk in partnership with National Book Store. Fans praised his bold approach to addressing taboo topics and applauded the novel's themes of love, identity, and perseverance.Park Sang Young's visit to the Philippines provided not only a glimpse into his acclaimed novel but also an opportunity for meaningful dialogue on themes of love, identity, and perseverance. His bold narratives and relatable characters continue to captivate readers around the world, making his time in Manila a highlight for both fans and the literary community.