Korea-Greece Strengthen Cooperation Through 'Cultural MOU'

Yoon In-chon "Both Countries Have Great Potential for Cooperation and Development"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Minister Yoo In-chon and Lina Mendoni, the Greek Minister of Culture, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cultural cooperation between the two countries on the 26th, strengthening the foundation for cultural collaboration.

The MOU specifies the scope and areas of cooperation in cultural heritage, performing arts, audiovisual industry, and book exchange, where both countries have strengths. It includes promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience related to the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage, strengthening mutual cooperation between cultural institutions such as museums, expanding human exchanges in performing arts fields such as theater, music, and dance, enhancing cooperation in the production and promotion of films and audiovisual works, and mutual participation in book fairs held by both countries as well as promoting publishing and translation activities.

Greece is the cradle of Western civilization. It possesses abundant cultural heritage such as the Athens Acropolis and the Delphi archaeological site. As the birthplace of theater, it also presents performing arts that encompass both ancient and modern times.

Korea and Greece, which established diplomatic relations in 1961, signed a cultural agreement in 1967 and have promoted various cultural exchanges. Especially in 2021, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, they held Korean music concerts online despite the COVID-19 situation. In April, at the 'Korea Theater Festival' held in Yongin, Korean and Greek directors and actors performed a joint production themed on the Greek tragedy 'Antigone.'

Minister Yoo In-chon emphasized, "Greece is a grateful country that sent the fifth largest number of troops (10,581 soldiers) to Korea during the Korean War," adding, "There is great potential for cooperation and development based on Greece’s strengths in cultural heritage restoration, protection, and excavation, and Korea’s strengths in popular culture arts such as K-pop and dramas." He continued, "I hope that the signing of this MOU will deepen the friendly relations that have been built over more than 70 years."