Writer홍보협력팀
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2021-11-22
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The Korean Culture and Education Association in Belgium and KSI Brussels joined hands to host the festival “Here Comes Korea; Rich Year” to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the sisterhood relationship between Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Gangnam-gu. As the name suggests, the festival was designed to give an opportunity to feel the joy of seeing the seeds sown in spring returning as a good harvest in the autumn.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are relearning the importance of everyday life and solidarity. Through this festival, we were able to give each other encouragement for the future and rediscover the joy of cultural exchange that had been forgotten.
In the opening ceremony, Yoon Soongu, Korean Ambassador; Raphaël van Breugel, Deputy Mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre; and Kim Jae-hwan, Director of the Korean Cultural Center of Belgium attended to give words of encouragement. Jung Soon-gyun, the Chief of Gangnam-gu, sent a video congratulatory message, and donated 1,000 Korean books and ten hanbok costumes from Gangnam-gu.
During the festival, various programs were held, including a lecture and demonstration of Buddhist temple food embodying the philosophy of naturalism by Monk Woo Kwan, lecture and demonstration of Korean fermented liquor by Makgeolli expert Heo Si-myeong; a samulnori performance by Anseong Namsadang Pungmul Band; a collaborative exhibition of Kim’s nature by folk artist Kim Hee-jin and artist Kim Eun-ae; and workshops for Korean folk art and hanbok paper craft.
Meanwhile, the number of participants indoors was limited to a maximum of 200 in compliance with the COVID quarantine guidelines. The lectures on temple food and makgeolli, in particular, were limited to 100 people and participants were required to register in advance. However, due to continuous requests for participation, it was finally decided to accommodate up to 200 people.
The participants said, “Cultural exchanges, which had been down due to COVID, gained a new life. We would like to participate in more Korean cultural events like this, and hope that there will be many more opportunities.”
