140th Anniversary of Korea-US Diplomatic Relations, Growing Closer Through 'Hallyu'

Various Commemorative Events Including K-POP Concerts, Academic Conferences, and Contemporary Dance Performances Held

At the K-Culture convention 'KCON 2019 LA' held at the LA Convention Center and Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA, 103,000 attendees gathered to enjoy K-Culture. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 27th that it will hold various cultural exchange events to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the United States, in collaboration with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and the Overseas Culture and Publicity Agency.

The relationship between Korea and the United States officially began in 1882 (the 19th year of King Gojong) when Special Envoy Shin Heon and U.S. Navy Admiral Schufeldt signed the "Korea-U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce." This bond was further strengthened in 1889 with the establishment of the Korean Empire's legation in Washington, D.C.

Since then, Korea appointed its first ambassador to the U.S. in 1949 and has actively continued cultural exchanges by establishing Korean Cultural Centers in New York (1979), Los Angeles (1980), and Washington, D.C. (2010).

To celebrate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to hold cultural exchange events. Beyond the already popular K-pop and films, the events will include modern dance and modern art exhibitions, virtual reality (VR) exhibitions, tourism, and journalist exchanges to introduce attractive aspects of Korea to the American public and strengthen cultural cooperation.

140th Anniversary of Korea-US Diplomatic Relations. Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

In the capital Washington, D.C., the following events will take place: a special exhibition "Once Upon a Roof" introducing ancient Korean architectural culture, co-hosted by the National Museum of Korea and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art; an exhibition "The King's Procession, Together with the People" at the Washington Korean Cultural Center featuring the National Museum of Korea; immersive screenings of the film "Parasite" and BTS concerts; a Korea-U.S. media exchange jointly promoted by the Korea Press Foundation and the East-West Center; a hanji (traditional Korean paper) hanbok fashion show and exhibition; and a joint performance by the National Dance Company of Korea and the Washington Ballet at the John F. Kennedy Center.

In New York, events include K-pop performances by Brave Girls, Golden Child, and AleXa at the Central Park outdoor stage; performances by independent musicians Jannabi and Annyeongbada at the Lincoln Center; a special Korean film screening at the New York Asian Film Festival (July), one of North America's major film events; and the operation of the "Korean Culture and Tourism Festival," introducing Korea's representative tourist destinations and travel products.

In Los Angeles, events include a K-pop forum and K-pop cover dance festival at the University of Southern California (USC); traditional Korean performances by sorikkun (traditional Korean singer) Lee Heemun and Taekwondo performances by Kukkiwon; "Korean cultural events" linked with major universities such as the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and USC, including Korean film screenings, Korean language contests, and Korean studies forums; and an exhibition of over 140 works by modern Korean artists such as Ko Heedong and Byun Gwansik at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Lee Jin-sik, Director of Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "Through this year's 140th anniversary cultural exchange events, Korea-U.S. relations will become richer, and the strong friendship between the two countries will be tangibly felt. We hope that the friendship and trust between the two countries will deepen further, creating a sustainable foundation for cultural exchange and expanding opportunities for our artists and cultural industries to advance overseas."