The exhibition “Handshakes for Freedom” on the second floor of the main building of Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential compound, marks the second anniversary of the reopening of the former presidential compound. The large scroll shows full-length portraits of world leaders drawn using artificial intelligence on hanging scrolls in the style of traditional Korean-style paintings. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
By Lee Kyoung Mi
Cultural events from exhibitions to music concerts will mark the second anniversary of the reopening of the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae to the public.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Cheong Wa Dae Foundation on April 30 said they will hold culture and arts events to reflect on the meaning and value of Cheong Wa Dae’s reopening.
The compound’s main building will host through July 29 the exhibition “Handshakes for Freedom.” Through cultural interpretations shown via media art and items President Yoon Suk Yeol received from heads of state, the display showcases records of his summit diplomacy over the past two years in science and technology, veterans’ affairs, national defense, culture and industry.
“Children Drawing Hope: The Exhibition of Ukrainian Children’s Art,” running until June 3 on the second floor of the former media center Chunchugwan, features about 150 drawings depicting the daily lives and hopes of Ukrainian children experiencing war.
This event was inspired by the drawings President Yoon saw in July at a center for protecting children’s rights in Kiev, Ukraine, when he and his wife visited there.
A concert under the theme “Cheong Wa Dae with the People: K-Culture Meets the World” is slated for May 7 at the garden Daejeongwon. An estimated 400 members of the public including national merit honorees, the socially disadvantaged, multicultural families, families with multiple children and 700 foreign nationals including envoys and students in Korea can see gugak (traditional music), classical music and K-pop.
The Korean Traditional Theater Festival will feature nongak (traditional farmers’ music), jultagi (tightrope walking) and talchum (mask dance), and other cultural arts events include family classical music and opera gala concerts.
Due to the rising number of foreign visitors, Cheong Wa Dae’s website has added Japanese- and Chinese-language pages to the ones in Korean and English. It also allowed foreign nationals to make reservations through a simple verification process via email.
“The return of Cheong Wa Dae, formerly the presidential office, to the arms of the public means that the protagonists of Korean history are the people,” the ministry and the foundation said in a statement. “By adding to Cheong Wa dae a new identity as a multicomplex cultural space given its historical symbolism and specialty, we will bring Cheong Wa Dae closer to the people.”
km137426@korea.kr
