K-Culture Also Enchants Northern Europe... Establishment of the Stockholm Korean Cultural Center

Also Arranged in Vienna, Austria... Celebration Performances by Jo Sumi and Others

The Korean Cultural Center has made its first entry into Northern Europe.

On the 9th, the Overseas Culture and Publicity Agency announced that on the 8th, it established the Korean Cultural Center in Stockholm, Sweden, located in the central area of Kungsholmen. The building is relatively large, with six floors and a total floor area of approximately 1,660㎡. It is filled with spaces such as 'Cafe Darak,' decorated in traditional Korean floor seating style; 'On,' a performance and exhibition hall showcasing performing arts including K-pop; 'Bada,' a library introducing Korean literature and picture books; and 'Mat,' where visitors can cook and taste Korean cuisine. A representative from the agency said, "It officially opened 13 years after a cultural attach? was assigned to the Korean Embassy in Sweden in 2010," adding, "We expect to promote K-culture to neighboring Nordic countries such as Finland and Norway."

The opening ceremony was attended by key figures from both countries, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Korean Ambassador to Sweden Jeong Byeong-won, Director Kim Jang-ho of the Overseas Culture and Publicity Agency, Tobias Billstr?m, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Olle Burell, Chairperson of the Stockholm City Council. They watched performances such as a haegeum, piano, and guitar ensemble, as well as art songs sung by a tenor from the Swedish National Opera, reaffirming their commitment to cultural exchange. The Korean Cultural Center in Sweden plans to continue various K-culture events, including a haegeum concert on the 9th, a screening of the film "Little Forest" on the 10th, a Korean cuisine seminar on the 11th, and a K-pop club festival on the 12th.

On the same day, the agency also established a Korean Cultural Center in Vienna, Austria. This marks the official opening four years after a cultural attach? was assigned to the Korean Embassy in Austria in 2019. A representative explained, "This is the result of the Austrian government welcoming and supporting exchanges in culture, arts, sports, and tourism with Korea, including the signing of the Korea-Austria Cultural Cooperation Agreement in April 2021."

The Korean Cultural Center in Austria is located on K?rntner Straße, the prime central street in Vienna. It occupies four floors with a total floor area of about 890㎡. It features a performance hall, gallery, library, and Sejong Institute classrooms, as well as spaces to promote K-culture such as 'Suragan,' where visitors can learn Korean cooking methods; 'Daecheongmaru,' showcasing the beauty of traditional Korean houses; and 'Sarangbang,' where visitors can experience wearing hanbok.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Korean Ambassador to Austria Ham Sang-ung, Director Kim Jang-ho of the Overseas Culture and Publicity Agency, former Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Vice Chancellor and Minister of Arts, Culture, Sports and Public Service Werner Kogler, and Sabine Haag, Director of the Vienna Museum of Art History. They enjoyed congratulatory performances by world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo, a trio from the Vienna University of Music, and the creative gugak group WIMU from Korea National University of Arts, pledging close cooperation.

A representative from the agency stated, "We plan to offer various programs throughout the year, including the exhibition 'Hanji and Bojagi - Colors and Forms of Korea' by artist Lee Seung-chul, special screenings of Korean films, regular concerts by the Korean Ensemble, and K-pop dance classes." They added, "We also plan to continue developing the Hallyu festival, which was successfully held last year at the Donauinselfest, Europe’s largest outdoor music festival, as a flagship brand project."