CELEBRATING CULTURE: KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER HOSTS  HANGEUL WEEK 2026 MANILA, Philippines - The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines commemorates the proclamation of Hangeul,  or the Korean alphabet, through “Hangeul Week 2026,” a week-long event to introduce the alphabet through exhibitions,  installations, and hands-on activities from October 1 to 8, 2026. From its rich history, Hangeul, Korea’s official writing system, was created by King Sejong the Great and his scholars in 1443.  Originally called Hunminjeongeum, the writing system was officially promulgated and published in 1446.  The Hunminjeongeum Manuscript was later inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 1997. Aside from cultural activities and programs to enjoy throughout the week, the celebration also featured the concert  “Imagination on Resonance” on October 2, 2026, showcasing a traditional Korean percussion performance by Groove &. Members Sang-kyung Lee, Min-ju Sohn, and Ha-gyeon Kim delivered a refreshing sound to the Filipino audience with  their traditional percussion instruments, offering a glimpse into another facet of Korea’s rich cultural heritage. The space, which spans throughout the multipurpose hall of KCC on the 5th floor,  features experience zones where visitors can write their names in calligraphy, make their own mood lamp inspired by  Hangeul letters, and enjoy some traditional Korean games. Visitors can also explore the Hangeul Tree, an interactive installation inspired by Hangeul,  where they can hang their bookmarks as leaves, adding their own personal touch to the growing tree.  Director Kim Myeongjin highlighted the event as another opportunity to introduce Filipinos to  Korea’s rich cultural heritage and history, further strengthening the cultural connection between the two nations. “Through this week-long celebration, KCC proudly shares a piece of Korean culture with the Filipinos as we continue  our commitment to connecting two nations,” he said. Hangeul Week 2026 will be open to the public from October 1 to 8, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines shares the taste of Korean Thanksgiving through ‘Shaping Hangawi: A Hansik Workshop’   The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines took part in celebrating Chuseok, or Korean Thanksgiving, through the Shaping Hangawi: A Hansik Workshop, offering a cultural and culinary experience on September 24-25, 2026, at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines in Taguig City. Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the most important holidays of Koreans and is often celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Koreans usually do various traditions during the festival, including cooking traditional food for the family. The two-day hands-on experience was led by Korean cuisine researcher Baik Jong Ran, where invited media, cultural partners, and the public got the chance to learn how to prepare some traditional Korean food, including songpyeon (송편) and kkochi-jeon (꼬치전), served during the festival. To give attendees the full Chuseok experience, they also had the opportunity to share and savor japchae (Korean glass noodle stir-fry) and sikhye (sweet rice punch), some of the traditional dishes commonly enjoyed by Korean families during the holidays. Offering participants a glimpse into the variety of Korean holiday cuisine, the workshop also featured a food exhibition of some more traditional dishes served during the celebration, including samsaek namul (three-color seasoned vegetables), galbijjim (Korean braised short ribs), torantang (taro soup), and gwail (fruits). KCC Director Kim Myeongjin shares the celebration with Filipinos as the center continues its commitment to connecting Filipinos and Koreans through cultural experiences. “This Chuseok celebration is also one of KCC’s ways to show our gratitude for the never-ending support of our partners to our initiative in sharing the Korean culture and to the public who continue to join us in our activities,” Aside from the cooking workshop, the center also offered to the public some traditional Korean games, including Ddakji, Gonggi, and Jegi Chagi, to complete the Korean cultural experience.

PHILIPPINES AND KOREA MARK 35TH YEAR OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE FESTIVAL  Korean and Filipino officials at the 35th Philippines-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival The Korea and Philippines marked another milestone in their longstanding friendship through the 35th Philippine-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival on September 15, 2026 hosted by the United Korean Community Association at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. The event brought together representatives from Korean and Philippine organizations, including Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Dong-gy, UKCA President Yoon Man-young, Chief Administrative Officer of the MET Theater Mr. Christian John Serrano, and Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Director Kim Myeongjin, among others. Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Dong-gy also delivered a message during the event along with other Korean and Filipino officials, highlighting the importance of continued cultural exchange in strengthening the friendship and cultural ties between Korea and the Philippines. Korean a cappella group EXIT P-pop girl group KAIA The event featured fun performances that highlighted the diverse talents of each nation. The Korean a cappella group EXIT, which is well-known for their powerful vocals, captivated the audience with an engaging performance that incorporated audience participation, creating an interactive musical experience that drew enthusiastic appreciation. Meanwhile, the five-member Filipino girl group KAIA, composed of Angela, Charice, Sophia, Alexa, and Charlotte, energized the stage with their dynamic performances. Their enthusiastic fans also joined in with synchronized fan chants, adding to the excitement and creating a lively atmosphere. K-pop dance cover group MERAKI A K-pop dance and singing cover contest was also held, featuring both groups and solo performers who showcased their talent and passion for Hallyu, which reflects the continued influence of Korean popular culture among Filipino audiences. The 35th Cultural Exchange Festival between Korea and the Philippines served as a meaningful occasion for the Korean and Filipino communities to strengthen decades of partnership and sharing of cultural experiences through music and shared stories.

Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Brings Hope to MIBF 2026 with “Moments with Kim Ho-yeon: Where Second Chances Begin” Highlighting hope and second chances with acclaimed author Kim Ho-yeon The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) filled the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF 2026) with hope and second chances through “Moments with Kim Ho-yeon: Where Second Chances Begin,” featuring acclaimed Korean author Kim Ho-yeon, and the opening of the interactive booth “K-Story Convenience Store” at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from September 9 to 13. Inspired by the hit novel “The Second Chance Convenience Store,” KCC’s “K-Story Convenience Store” was open to the public from September 9 to 13, showcasing a wide selection of Korean literature and offering visitors a variety of interactive activities. Aside from the interactive booth, KCC also hosted several book signing and meet-and-greet events for acclaimed author Kim Ho-yeon with Filipino readers, members of the media, and the KCC Book Club through talks, discussions, and book signing sessions. Best known internationally for his story “The Second Chance Convenience Store,” a heartwarming novel that explores kindness, community, healing, and the possibility of starting over. The novel became a bestseller in Korea, selling more than two million copies and has since been translated into English, Japanese, Polish, Chinese, and Spanish. Through “Moments with Kim Ho-yeon: Where Second Chances Begin” KCC continues its efforts to promote Korean literature and create opportunities for Filipino audiences to engage directly with Korean authors and their works. Attendees pose for a group photo after the 3-day “Moments with Kim Ho-yeon: Where Second Chances Begin”  The event kicked off at the KCC Library on September 10, where KCC Book Club members, members of the media, influencers, and the public got the chance to meet and hear stories from Kim himself about his hit novel. It was then followed on September 11 at the UP Diliman School of Statistics Lecture Hall 1, wherein, aside from a question and answer portion, Kim also did a lecture where he shared his journey and his ups and downs in writing. The event concluded at the National Book Store Stage at the MIBF 2026 event on September 12, where hundreds of book lovers joined the program and had their books personally signed. KCC Director Kim Myeongjin shares his joy in another successful MIBF year, saying, “We remain committed to bringing Korean literature closer to Filipino readers and further strengthening the growing cultural ties between Korea and the Philippines.” Through the success of “Moments with Kim Ho-yeon: Where Second Chances Begin,” KCC continues its effort to connect two cultures and continues to discover stories that further bring the Philippines and Korean literature closer.

Read and Experience Seoulful Stories: An Immersive Showcase of Korean Literature Check it out at the National Book Store Superbranch, SM Mall of Asia This tastefully designed vignette is the new home for Korean literature at the National Book Store Superbranch in SM Mall of Asia, coming soon to more NBS branches. Manila, Philippines — National Book Store (NBS), the Philippines’ largest bookstore chain, and the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) continue their collaboration with an exciting new endeavor to bring Korean literature closer to Filipino readers. Connecting Cultures, Uniting with Stories Seoulful Stories is a specially curated book display featuring the wide selection of Korean cozy fiction bestsellers, literary novels, manhwa (comics), and self-help books available at NBS, all translated into English or Filipino. The structure features intricate geometric lattice screens lined with soft, translucent white backdrops reminiscent of classic paper-paneled hanji doors. Hanging from the doorways are rectangular patchwork fabric lanterns, evocative of traditional Jinju silk lanterns. This culturally immersive display for the books is a refreshing space for browsing books and taking photos and videos. “Our partnership with National Book Store has been instrumental in bridging Korean and Filipino cultures through the shared love for reading. Through the launch of Seoulful Stories, we are thrilled to make Korean stories and literary voices even more accessible to Filipino readers, fostering a deeper cultural appreciation between our two nations,” said Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Director Myeongjin Kim. The first Seoulful Stories is located inside the National Book Store Superbranch in SM Mall of Asia, with the formal opening and ribbon-cutting on September 1, 2026. Another Seoulful Stories nook is coming to the all-new National Book Store Superbranch in Festival Mall by September, and will also be present in more branches later this year and throughout 2027. “We are deeply grateful for our continued collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines,” said National Book Store President and CEO Adrian S. Ramos. “This is part of our ongoing transformation to make National Book Store more than just a go-to retail destination. Seoulful Stories helps make our stores a welcoming third space and a vibrant cultural hub, and we look forward to expanding this to more branches across Metro Manila and beyond." Bringing Korean Authors and Filipino Readers Together This next stage of collaboration further aligns KCC’s mission of promoting Korean language and culture with National Book Store’s dedication to providing Filipino readers with diverse, world-class literature. Over the past several years, this mutually beneficial partnership has brought celebrated Korean literary voices to the Philippines with award-winning novelist Park Sang-young (Love in the Big City) in 2024 and bestselling author Hwang Bo-reum (Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop) in 2025. Continuing this tradition, NBS and KCC will welcome acclaimed author Kim Ho-yeon (The Second Chance Convenience Store) to Manila for a series of book talks and signing sessions. His visit concludes with his event at the 45th Manila International Book Fair in the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on September 12, 2026 (Saturday). The Second Chance Convenience Store is available in National Book Store branches, online on www.nationalbookstore.com, and their official stores on Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop. About National Book Store National Book Store is the Philippines' largest bookstore chain, helping Filipino families and communities achieve balanced living affordably by providing quality books, educational materials, creative tools, and inspiring experiences that complement their digital lives, spark imagination, and foster meaningful connections. About the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) operates under the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, dedicated to deepening cultural understanding and exchange between Korea and the Philippines through language, arts, literature, and community programs.