ARE YOU NEXT? BE THE NEXT ICON WITH KCC’S PINOY K-POP STAR This year, the crown is for yours to take and be hailed as the future icon with Pinoy K-Pop Star! Ten people, five from each category, whose light shone the most during the preliminary round, will have the chance to give a performance of their lives and compete in SM Mall of Asia’s Music Hall on July 16, 2022, and be the Philippines’ representative for the 2022 Changwon K-Pop World Festival. Whether you are passionate about dancing, singing or both, and whether you want to perform alone or with your friends, you have the chance to win to be the NEXT icon! The contest is open for solo, duo or group of Filipino nationality singers and dancers who preferably must be 18 years old and above at the time of the competition. Contestants aged 17 years old and below are allowed to join by submitting a waiver that they are allowed by their parents (or authorized guardian) to join. Contestants also must be a resident and citizen of the Philippines, and must perform a K-Pop song from 2020 – 2022. Future and aspiring stars may refer to the full contest guidelines through KCC’s official social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@KCCPhil), and through www.tinyurl.com/2022PKSInfo. There’s no time to waste as the deadline of entries for aspirants will be on June 26, 2022. The grand winner from the Vocal Category, and the grand winner and second placer of the Performance Category will be the Philippines’ official representative to the 2022 Changwon K-Pop Festival. Aside from getting the chance to represent the Philippines, the winner will also get Php 50, 000 as cash prize. Meanwhile, the second placer and the third placer will get Php 30, 000 and Php 20, 000 respectively. Yet this is not the end of what’s in store for you! Supporters of these aspiring stars as well as other guests may enjoy different prizes and booths from our partner Philippine K-pop Convention (PKCI). You can’t miss the program PKCI will hold prior to the contest which features different P-Pop dance groups plus a special performance from an award winning multi-talented P-Pop group! The stars have aligned for you. Are you ready to take on the crown and be the next ICON?

KCC KICKS OFF FAMILY MONTH WITH TAEKWONDO WORKSHOP Learning Taekwondo as a family brings everyone together and helps develop a stronger familial bond from the wonderful memories created. That’s why in honor of the Family Month, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS)’s Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) held 준비: Taekwondo Family Workshop for children and their parents to experience and learn Taekwondo from Teacher Kim Hyo Jun, the president of Korea Taekwondo Association in the Philippines, and his students. Ten pairs of children and their parents selected from an online draw were able to learn about the history of Taekwondo and its different attack and defense techniques. It was really a family celebration in KCC because while the workshop intended for children to learn together with only one adult, it didn’t stop them from bringing both of their parents, grandparents and even siblings to the workshop. Children ages 6 to 13 were able to try out their skills in Taekwondo by breaking wooden boards and hitting kick pads with the help of Teacher Kim and his students as the parents cheer them on from the sides. They were also able to learn basic self-defense, and 품새 (Poomsae), which is a performance of sequence or patterns of martial art techniques and forms. There was also a child-parent interaction wherein the parents were the ones who held the wooden boards and the kick pads for their children to hit. Aside from the free workshop, the families were able to receive free Taekwondo shirts to commemorate their experience and to constantly remind them that they can do anything with their family supporting them. KCC currently offers free Korean Language classes and in line with its goal of culture collaboration between Korea and the Philippines, it is planning to open Korean Culture-related classes such as Taekwondo, Korean Cooking Class, K-Pop Dance, Korean Traditional Dance, and Korean painting. For two years, it has been offering classes online, and준비: Taekwondo Family Workshop is among its first offline workshops. It is planning to conduct more onsite classes and workshops in the future. For more information and updates of KCC’s newest events and projects, you may visit its official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts @KCCPhil, and its website phi.korean-culture.org.

KCC JUMPSTARTS PHIL-KOR COLLABORATION WITH MURAL After Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS)’s Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) opened its doors to the public last March 25, it also unveiled its resolution to promote the cultural exchange between Korea and the Philippines. In line with its goals for 2022, KCC in partnership with Metropolitan Museum created a project which showcases the culture collaboration of Korea and the Philippines through the creative mind of mural artist Jappy Agoncillo. For KCC, the mural is a collaboration and friendship between Korea and the Philippines, incorporating representative and national symbols from both countries. Since the center’s building is a harmonization of traditional and modern Korean elements, the mural also harmonizes traditional concepts with contemporary art. It also serves as an aesthetic feature for guests where they can take their pictures.  Jappy Agoncillo wanted to incorporate the similarities and friendship of Filipinos and Koreans, and as thus, included national symbols from both countries. “For the color palette, I really want to look at the Korean traditional elements and colors, especially the palace colors. I really those strong colors represent in the mural.” He added. The mural stands as a symbol of KCC’s goals for the years to come, a reminder that it now serves as the bridge between the cultural exchange and collaboration between Korea and the Philippines. 

KCC PLANS FOR FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES IGNITED WITH FIRST OFFLINE SEMINAR IN 2 YEARS Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS)’s Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) introduced new conversations and marked new beginnings with Let’s TALK: Tastes and Lessons on K-Life, a 2-day offline seminar to give the public an overview of its operations for the face-to-face classes. In a span of two days, a total of 40 participants experienced different facets of Korean Culture for free, evenly divided into 20 participants each day. Participants from both days were able to take a trip all-over Korea with the Korea Gastronomic Experience and eat like Koreans together with comfort food that healed their hearts. They cooked and ate authentic Korean Food with authentic Korean ingredients, giving them a taste of Korea’s rich culinary culture and customs with KCC cooking class teacher Lily Min. The first day applicants learned more about K-Life with Dr. Inero Ancho, who experienced it firsthand when he took his PhD in Chonbuk National University. Dr. Ancho shares that K-Life is lifeless without Pinoy life or the Pinoy community as a support system, and that he was able to share Filipino culture with Koreans through cultural activities. The second day applicants, on the other hand, learned more about studying in Korea together with Ms. Loren Daryl Sarenas who took her Master’s Degree in Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Ms. Sarenas shared her process of scholarship and program applications, which sparked the interest of the participants in trying out to study in Korea. She also shared that it was hard to cope with Korean food, yet once used to can be tolerated. While the experience is not all glitz and glamour, it took them into a glimpse of an exciting life of adventure by meeting new people, learning about a new culture, and going beyond their comfort zone. Dr. Ancho even said that it takes determination, a strong heart and mind to live and survive in South Korea. To top the experience, the first group was treated to the basic steps of Korean traditional dance with KCC traditional dance class teacher Jo Jang Eun, where they danced to the beat of K-life traditions. As for the second group, they learned more about Korean calligraphy and how every stroke is reminiscent of Korean traditions together with KCC Korean language class teacher Shul Jung Wha. Aside from the memorable experience, participants had the chance to win exciting K-Prizes through a special raffle draw at the end of each day. 10 lucky winners were drawn each day. KCC currently offers free Korean Language classes and in line with its goal of culture collaboration between Korea and the Philippines, it is planning to open Korean Culture-related classes such as Korean Cooking Class, K-Pop Dance, Korean Traditional Dance, and Korean painting. For two years, it has been offering classes online, and Let’s TALK: Tastes and Lessons on K-Life marked the start of its trial face-to-face classes as it gives an overview of what KCC can offer. As of now, there are a total of 18 students for its only on-site Korean.

Next 10 Years for KCC: ‘Phil-Koraboration’; Culture Collaboration for Kor-Phil   From left to right: Tauig City Mayor Mr. Lino Cayetano, DOT Secretary Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Korea’s Ambassador Mr. Kim Inchul, KCC Director Ms. Im Young-a, NCCA Chairman Mr. Arsenio Lizaso The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines had their offline ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of its new location last March 23, 2022 with Korea’s Ambassador to the Philippines, KIM Inchul gracing the event. Other private and esteemed guests that attended were DOT’s Secretary, Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Mayor Lino Cayetano of Taguig City; Mr. Arsenio Lizaso, Chairman of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA); DepEd’s Director IV for the Bureau of Curriculum Development Office, Ms. Jocelyn Andaya; Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s Special Projects & External Affairs Unit Manager, and Mr. Frank David Fabros; and BGen. Miguel Villamor, President of Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea Veteran Association. KCC celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.  Since its establishment in 2011, KCC continues to create activities, events and projects in relation to its goal of expanding the understanding and appreciation of Korean culture and the promotion of an active cultural exchange between Korea and the Philippines. For the past 10 years, KCC has actively expanded the understanding and appreciation of Korean culture in the Philippines through Pinoy Kpop Star, Korean Film Festival, Global Taste Korea and Korean Culture Caravan. And for the next 10 years, KCC plans on to expand this goal with a cultural collaboration between Korea and the Philippines, and promote Philippine culture to Korea. KCC’s Director IM YoungA, spoke about the culture collaboration of both countries in her remark, “If the past 10years of Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines focused on introducing Korean culture to Filipinos, of course we’ll keep doing that, then, for the next 10 years, we’ll also try to introduce the Filipino culture to Koreans so we can grow together through the cultural exchange of our countries.” She also introduced the new theme of Korean Cultural Center at its new home, “This year, with the reopening of the cultural center, we are preparing several important projects under the theme of ‘Phil-Koraboration.’ Murals involving Filipino artists, a “Media art” showcase made by artists from both countries, will be opened to the public. There will be a “Korean Culture Caravan” visiting our future generation, with “Cultural Street Festival” where people can experience culture of both countries. A film industry expert workshop is also waiting to answer your questions.” As a start of this culture collaboration, KCC currently houses Punghwa: Light of ASEAN, a kinetic media art installation created by interactive media art studio SILO Lab which features lights and sounds that perfectly reflects the shared fondness of Korea and the Philippines to light culture, a practice of wishing into the shining light in the dark sky.  It symbolizes hope, confidence and bravery for a new normal after these difficult times. Starting March 25, 2022, KCC’s doors will be open to the public. There will be no reservation, but KCC follows IATF’s guidelines and as thus, would require guests to present their vaccination card before entering the building and submit to a mandatory temperature check. KCC will be open from 9AM to 4PM every Monday – Friday. It will also be upon every Saturday from 10AM to 4PM every Saturday until May 31, 2022.