Korean Culture Day in Bogota

KSI Bogota, Colombia (Cho Jungyoon, Operating Staff)

The KSI in Bogota, Colombia hosted its annual Korean culture day on November 7th. The title of this year's event was ‘Beating COVID-19: We can do it together!’

The drive-in cultural event was designed to give the Colombians a welcome respite from one of the world’s longest COVID-19 lockdown periods, and provide new opportunities to local artists whose livelihoods have suffered in the pandemic.

KSI learners enrolled in the music departments at the National University of Colombia Bogotá and the University City of Bogotá were afforded the opportunity collaborate with professional musicians, producing cover performances of Korean songs and pop music.
The local artists who sang the Korean national anthem and popular songs like Our Beloved Mt. Geumgangsan in the Korean language were especially well received by audiences.

The Samulnori club ‘Hanbia (an amalgamation of ‘Hanguk’, the Korean name for Korea, and Colombia - devised by the club members themselves)’ at the KSI Bogota received private instruction from noted professional Korean samulnori performance groups each time they visited Colombia, in addition to regular training from cultural interns dispatched to the institute by the KSIF. Naturally, their performance skills are remarkable.

The event garnered much attention from the Colombian public as well as the authorities, with the mayor of Bogota, the police general in charge of education for the national police, Colombia’s inaugural Minister of Culture, and senate members of the current ruling party in attendance. The Korean National Ballet and the Little Angels Children's Folk Ballet of Korea also took part in the event.

The occasion was a reminder of just how much love and interest Colombia has in the language and culture of Korea. We look forward to even more colorful events and education programs from the KSI in Bogota, Colombia! Thank you.

▲ A performance by the Korean National Ballet

▲ Artistic Director Kang Suejin of the Korean National Ballet gives her opening remarks

▲ The Little Angels Children's Folk Ballet of Korea, singing the Colombian national anthem