‘Dream: A Family Fantasy Special’: Filipino families to enjoy Free Christmas Screening at home  A gift need not always be a material item. It can be time, effort, or even just plain entertainment. Apart from being the Christmas season, December has always been about friends, family, and celebration in the Philippines. Since a good number of cinema houses remain inaccessible and outside events remain impossible due to the pandemic, Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) will once again bring the big screens to the Filipino homes. KCC, together with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Viva International Pictures, its official online media partner Inquirer.net and Pop and its official telecommunications partner, Smart and Smart K-Life, have put together four highly-rated films about family and fantasy for the Filipinos to enjoy for free during the holidays. “Dream: A Family Fantasy Special” is KCC’s finale offering for 2020. Similar to the previous film events, the Dream screening will stream for free for viewers in the Philippines via the KCC websitehttp://phil.korean-culture.org/ from December 19 to 25, 2020. Movie fans can watch the following as many times as they like during the screening period: Luck Key (럭키) starring Yu Hae-Jin, Lee Joon, Wonderful Nightmare (미쓰 와이프) starring Uhm Jung-Hwa, Song Seung-Heon, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (신과함께: 죄와 벌) featuring Cha Tae-Hyun, Ha Jung-Woo, Ju Ji-Hoon, and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (신과함께-인과 연) headlining Kim Dong-Wook, Ha Jung-Woo, Ju Ji-Hoon. Still part of the Korea at Home campaign, which aims to bring unique and accessible Korean culture and content to the Filipinos even while at the comforts of their own home, “Dream: A Family Fantasy Special” is the final online film screening organized by KCC this 2020. “Dream” screening comes right on the heels of the November screening titled “화합 Harmony: A Special Screening on Hope and Love” and the 2020 Korean Film Festival last September. All of these film screenings have shifted to the online platform due to the restrictions brought about by the pandemic. Catch “Dream: A Family Fantasy Special” for free at http://phil.korean-culture.org/ from December 19 to 25, 2020. Stay updated about KCC’s other events and activities by following us on our social media sites Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KoreanCulturalCenterPH) and on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube via KCCPhil.

Bringing joy to pandemic heroes through K-Care packages… Over 320 Filipino frontliners shared their stories of hope and passion through K-Healing Campaign A resounding success, the Korean Cultural Center’s (KCC) Overcome Together campaign brought to the fore the champions of this ongoing global pandemic. Through this meaningful initiative, KCC hopes to offer inspiration and much-need healing through K-Healing Packages given to our brave frontliners. These men and women across the country were nominated by fellow Filipinos. And by the end of November (nomination period was from October 5-31, 2020), KCC had received an overwhelming 156 nominations for over 900 frontliners all over the archipelago – some even as far as Puerto Princesa and Davao.  ▲K-Healing package The nominations were diverse - from nurses to doctors, janitors, drivers, military men, security guards, and firefighters, among others. And each was well-deserving to receive a K-Healing package. Truly, many Filipinos came together to honor our tireless heroes. After a careful review of each nomination, KCC was able to choose winners and deliver K-Healing packages to 15 nominees in the Individual Category and 314 individuals for 15 different group winners in the Group Category. Here get to know more about some of the most inspiring Filipinos chosen. MAE JOY CRUSPERO: DUTY ABOVE ALL Among the most touching stories was from Divine Cruspero, a Filipino based in New Zealand who nominated her sister, Mae Joy Cruspero, a nurse in Davao. Mae Joy was supposed to follow her sister and seek greener pastures in New Zealand. But due to the pandemic, she decided instead to put her dreams on hold and serve her community at the local hospital. “There were many times throughout the pandemic that I had asked my sister to quit her job because of the danger and the risk,” says Divine. “But she simply said, ‘This is my passion, this is the job that I’ve chosen for myself. I’m here to serve the people, give back to the community, and serve my parents.’’ “My sister is truly a hero,” says Divine. ROMEO SUBIO: HOPE, NOT DESPAIR Another inspiring nomination was from Romelynn Subio, who wanted to honor her father, Romeo Subio, a PUJ Driver from Butuan City. He was one of the affected drivers of the pandemic. Since he was not able to drive and work due during the lockdown, her father did simple carpentry work for some households and also vehicle repair. “When we would talk, he was worried about the loss of income and how to sustain our family’s needs,” shares Romelynn. “But as a daughter, I know why he felt that way. He has always been a good provider for the family. Despite that, I encouraged him that everything he felt then was normal and that he was doing well in everything that he does for our family. Laban lang (fighting)!” Through her nomination, Romelynn wanted to assure her father and all his other colleagues that things happen for a reason and that “we should use this chance to grow as individuals and to find strength in each other as we all cope as one.” EVELYN SETIAS: PROTECTING THE NEXT GENERATION Evelyn Setias, a teacher of West Fairview Elementary School, is a mom of three kids and is taking care of all of them by herself because her husband works abroad. While managing a household and raising a family, she also devotes her time to helping her students – making sure that no student is left behind during this most difficult time. Evelyn was nominated by her eldest son whose love and admiration for his mother grew over these past months. “My mom spends a lot of time preparing for school. She chooses to work for hours, even losing sleep, to accomplish her tasks for class. Often, she has also had to skip meals in order to help out her students. My mom is a hero because she shares her knowledge and is helping nurture future nurses, police, local government officer doctors and more,” he wrote in his nomination letter. BEVERLY MAE MANANSALA: A MOTHER’S SACRIFICE During the pandemic, the last place anyone wants to be is in the hospital. But this is where Beverly Mae Manansala, a nurse from the OB Department of Adventist Medical Center Manila, has chosen to go every day. Despite the risks, she chooses the ultimate sacrifice to be in service for others. “Nursing is not only a profession, it’s a passion,” she says. “It is not an easy job. Due to the nature of our work, we’re not allowed to make mistakes because we are dealing with lives.” In addition she says, every day brings new uncertainty and is physically, emotionally, and mentally draining, especially for those working in the field like her. Beverly has two kids and takes care of her 65-year-old mother, and so the guilt and fear of bringing them harm is persistent. For their safety, she took them home to the province and I hasn’t seen them for over half a year now. “To do our jobs well, my colleagues and I have had to isolate ourselves from our loved ones for weeks and months.” But her work as a nurse, and helping other mothers bring new life into the world is a privilege. “Their smiles make it all worthwhile,” Beverly beams. ROGER PY: PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY Volunteerism is about commitment without expecting anything in return. This is how the Marikina Filipino-Chinese Fire Brigade Volunteers describe their philosophy. The group, led by Fire Chief Roger Py, is going above and beyond the call of duty to keep their communities safe. In addition to participating in civic and social activities related to COVID-19 relief efforts, the brigade must still attend to the daily dangers that wreak havoc across the city such as fires and other rescues operations due to natural calamities. In fact, more is being asked from them now as they work nonstop in disaster evacuations, medical missions, and cleaning operations, especially after the back-to-back typhoons having debilitated numerous communities. “The pandemic and the recent calamity that hit the Luzon capital is something we didn’t expect, but we vow to continue doing what we have committed to do in order to serve the community,” shares Py. MORE STORIES TO HEAR AND WITNESS Moreover, as part of the Korean Embassy’s partnership with the Department of Education for the Special Program for Languages, KCC also recognized the teachers at the frontlines of their partner schools like Kalayaan National High School in Pasay and Makati High School. There are many more stories from our brave frontliners that have touched our hearts. Watch their stories of courage and sacrifice as KCC will be capping off the meaningful campaign with a mini online concert streamed on KCC’s official YouTube Channel on December 12, 3pm. The show will feature exciting performances by Korean crossover vocal group and winner of the JTBC Phantom Singer 2, Forestella, and Lim Kim, the singer sensation who made her debut in 2011 after appearing on Mnet Superstar KR and Amazing Arirang. It has been a difficult year to say the least, but we are welcoming 2021 with renewed hope and optimism, inspired by the heroes who live amongst us and who have selflessly given themselves to protect the nation. By their example and through their own stories of hope and healing, we are inspired to help in our own little ways and to become heroes just like them.

HARMONY: KCC’S LATEST ONLINE SCREENING OFFERS COMFORT BY BRINGING FILMS ABOUT HOPE AND LOVE Following the success of the first online venture of the 2020 Korean Film Festival comes another set of screening that would definitely warm the hearts of the Filipinos as they center on love, upliftment, and healing. The recent pandemic, typhoon and the problems and uncertainties brought about by those two adversities proved to be too challenging for all the Filipinos. To help in easing those anxieties and to bring a reason to smile and feel a bit of comfort to the Filipinos, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines has carefully selected three of the most heart-warming films that tackle love and life to be part of the special the event titled “화합 Harmony: A Special Screening on Hope and Love.” The films The Queen of Walking (걷기왕) featuring Shim Eun-Kyung, Park Joo-Hee, Kim Sae-Byuk, Like for Likes (좋아해줘) starring Lee Mi-Yeon, Yoo Ah-In, Choi Ji-Woo and  My Love, My Bride ( 나의 사랑 나의 신부) headlined by Cho Jung-Seok, Shin Min-A will be screened for free for the K-Culture loving Filipinos to enjoy from November 21 to November 27, 2020 through the KCC website http://phil.korean-culture.org/.  Viewers residing in the Philippines may catch all the films for free on their Android or iOS devices. To add to this exciting event, KCC has teamed up with Adarna House, Inc. for a special Film Pop Quiz, wherein participants can get the chance to win the locally-translated version of the Korean bestselling title 나는 나로 살기로 했다 (I Decided to Live as Me) by 김수현 (Kim Soo-Hyun) published by 마음의 숲 (Woods of Mind Books) straight from the publication’s Apop collection. Still part of the Korea at Home campaign, which aims to bring unique and accessible Korean culture and content to the Filipinos even while at the comforts of their own home, “화합 Harmony: A Special Screening on Hope and Love” is made possible by KCC, in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Viva International Pictures, Adarna House Inc, its official online media partner Inquirer.net and Pop, and the official telecommunications partner Smart and Smart K-Life. Watch 화합 Harmony: A Special Screening on Hope and Love free and join the Film Pop Quiz http://phil.korean-culture.org/ from November 21 to 27, 2020 by visiting the KCC website. Stay updated about KCC’s other events and activities by following us on our social media sites Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KoreanCulturalCenterPH) and on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube via KCCPhil.

Two-day K-Drama Webinar Gives Filipino Audiences A Look Behind K-Drama Scenes (Left to Right: Lee Young-hoon, Kim Yoon-young, Kim Hee-yeol, Laurice Guillen, Jose Javier Reyes) The Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) and the together with BGC Arts Center and MIND S-Cool has spurred conversation and shared new insights and information about one of the most beloved aspects of the Hallyu Wave—the K-Dramas. The one-time-streamed webinar held last November 6 and 7 discussed the K-Drama production and scriptwriting, and the impact of Korean dramas in bridging Korean culture across different parts of the world. Attended by around 1,600 live audience viewers on both YouTube and Facebook, they actively participated and discussed through the chat box, sent in questions, and voiced their aspirations for the local entertainment production, and the inspiration brought about by the speakers’ lectures and the event itself. The event even led to the creation of a chatgroup by complete strangers who now relentlessly discuss about how they can assist in the execution of the knowledge and plans tackled at the webinar. Titled, “The Role of K-Dramas in Sharing and Shaping Culture Beyond Borders," was organized as part of KCC's "Korea at Home" campaign together with SMART, the webinar’s official telecommunications partner and Inquirer.net, the event’s official online media partner which aims to continue its goal of promoting Korean culture to the Filipino people at the comforts of their own home during this pandemic. The webinar featured five speakers; day one, which focused on K-Drama production, had Lee Young-hoon from the Korea Creative Content Agency and Kim Hee-yeol from Pan Entertainment, joined by President of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Laurice Guillen. The second day covered scriptwriting and was headed by Kim Yoon-young, Executive Director of Korea TV & Radio Writers Association, along with the Chairman of the Digital Film Program at the school of design and arts at De La Salle College of St. Benilde Jose Javier "Joey" Reyes. The presence of speakers from both South Korea and the Philippines enabled them to engage in insightful dialogue about the process of production scriptwriting as well as production in Korea vis-a-vis the practices in the Philippines. Both Kim Yoon-young and Kim Hee-yeol emphasized that story is king in dramas, a big factor as to their appeal to both Korean and global audiences. They invest time and creative effort into crafting stories from scratch or adapting them from webtoons (online graphic novels) or internet novels because they understand that the storyline is the backbone of a good drama. Not only that, but Kim Hee-yeol points out that they choose to feature themes that "reflect the situation of the times and gives us a chance to look back on our behaviors and the current situation."  The webinar likewise opened up previously unknown facts about K-Dramas such as actor selection, production rates, talent fees, music and location selection, K-Drama importation, and even the K-Drama script development. As speakers Lee Young-hoon, Laurice Guillen, and Joey Reyes all pointed out, Korean dramas do not just captivate audiences because of their storylines and plots, but also because of the overall themes that overlap in our cultures, especially in Asia. These are themes such as filial piety, love, and the most evident theme of all, the triumph of good over evil. This, along with diverse and well-thought-out storylines as well as the strong support of the Korean government for the arts and broadcast entertainment, attributes to the international appeal and success of K-Dramas. The event definitely offers a perceptive window into the ins and outs of K-Dramas and the amount of support that the Korean government is giving to this industry. Although it has laid out the stark contrast between the broadcast entertainment environment between the two countries, and may have just set the stage for the beginnings of collaborations between the two countries in terms of broadcast content, as all speakers expressed their interest in doing so. Filipinos have been interested in K-Dramas for quite some time now, and this has extended their curiosity towards what goes on behind-the-scenes, which KCC has allowed us to have a brief yet insightful glance at.  Apart from the webinar, KCC promises to introduce various programs that can help further develop the local content industry in the Philippines, similar to the path taken by K-Pop and K-Drama. KCC will be bringing in field experts who will discuss industry know-hows, particularly under the theme of copyright, author education, and idol development programs.

Inspiration, talent, and friendship shine as first online 2020 Philkor festival wraps up -2020 philkor festival draws 40k live viewers as it brings hope, performances and prizes to filipinos- With a combined live viewer of over 40,000 on YouTube and Facebook, the first foray of the 2020 Philippines-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival online last October 31, 2020 has been a huge success. This was all thanks to the relentless support of the fans of the performers, Korean band, World Music ID, Celso Espejo Rondalla, K-pop Dance Diva, Dasuri Choi, Star Hunt Academy Trainees, Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan and phenomenal P-Pop group SB19. The timeless partnership of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, the Korean Cultural Center (KCC), United Korean Community Association together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), as well as, the success of PhilKor Festival will surely bring more events of the same kind that would enable Filipinos to actively participate in the cultural exchange between the Philippines and Korea. “We Rise Together” was a very timely theme for the event as both countries are currently facing the challenges of today’s pandemic. But together, and hand-in-hand, these two countries through various cultural events such as PhilKor Festival, will definitely get over all the challenges and uncertainties of these days. Aside from the astonishing performances of the above-mentioned guests, one of the main highlights of the event was the awarding of the online talent contest winners. The winners likewise performed their amazing pieces and shared warm messages of inspiration for all the audience. Bagging P30,000 each were Mariz Mitra and Neverglow who won the Vocal and Dance categories respectively, while acapella group Iskollas took home P50,000 as the Grand Prize winner. The event officially closed with a special collaboration performance of ‘Ikako’ by SB19, as the trending boy group sang with, Mona Gonzales, Ann Sandig, Wave Lee, Dasuri Choi, Celso Espejo Rondalla, and World Music Band ID. The performances served as an inspiration and a source of energy and happiness through the trying times, especially for the brave frontliners of both countries. Through the good, the bad, and everything in between, the Philippines and Korea will further their beautiful friendship and deep cultural exchange so that we can rise together through any adversities.