The event “2022 Traditional Korea” was opened from Oct. 1-2 at the 15th arrondissement of Paris. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
By Lee Jihae
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Oct. 5 said it will jointly host with the Korea Craft and Design Foundation the monthlong event “2022 Traditional Korea” in France and Mexico to promote traditional Korean culture.
The event is designed to expand global interest in Korea from popular content to traditional culture and globally promote the latter’s distinct beauty and value.
The venue in France is the 15th arrondissement and Oori Center of Paris and that in Mexico is Korean House (Casa de Corea) in Guanajuato.
In France, this year’s event kicked off from Oct. 1-2 at the 15th arrondissement of Paris. A media art exhibition featuring bojagi (royal wrapping cloth) from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), wooden lacquerware and media art highlighting Hangeul was held at a small banquet hall.
An interactive outdoor event allowed visitors to play traditional games like paengi chigi (spinning a top) and gonggi (game of five small pebbles) and try Hansik (Korean cuisine) featuring rice and side dishes.
The event will run from Oct. 3-29 at Oori Center, a multicultural cultural complex near the Eiffel Tower. A media art will show what classical scholars of the Joseon Dynasty wore and the process of traditional fabric weaving. An exhibition will feature 28 traditional handicrafts and “Our Game Box” (unofficial translation), a collection of content adding a modern touch to traditional games.
An interactive event will allow visitors to make mobiles out of Hanji (traditional paper) and color soban (small portable dining tables).
In Mexico, 2022 Traditional Korea will take place on the sidelines of the International Cervantino Festival, in which Korea is the guest country of honor to mark the 60th anniversary of Korea-Mexico ties. An exhibition from Oct. 12-30 will be held under the theme “Bright Life” featuring dishware centered on the table setting at a traditional wedding, traditional wedding clothes and traditional flower pots made of Hanji. And a display of traditional culinary culture and table setting is also scheduled, along with the running of a Korean restaurant.
Kim Hye-ju, director of the ministry’s Traditional Culture Division, said, “We hope that through this event, interest in Korean culture, which is mainly focused on K-pop, movies and dramas, will naturally expand to traditional culture so that Korea’s distinct and diverse culture gets more exposure worldwide.”
jihlee08@korea.kr
