The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on June 24 that it will present a performance titled "Un baile entre culturas" ("A Gesture Connecting Cultures") at 8:00 p.m. (local time) on July 4 at the dance center theater of Matadero, Madrid's leading multidisciplinary cultural and arts institution.
Artistic director Kim Sina will direct the performance, with Choi Sangcheol Modern Dance Company, Who Dance Company, and Humans Stance taking the stage. They will showcase dance art that blends street dance with both traditional and contemporary Korean elements.
This event has been organized as the flagship performance of the "2025 Korea Season: Spain," a program co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Cultural Center in Spain, and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange.
Performance scene of Choi Sangcheol Modern Dance Company [Photo by Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism]
Korea Season is an event that presents specially curated performances and exhibitions in countries with high potential for the spread of Korean culture. It was held in the United Kingdom in 2023 and in France in 2024. This year, Korea Season is taking place in Spain, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Spain. The 2025 Korea Season began in March, and the Ministry plans to present more than 30 events?including pop music, classical music, literature, and cultural industry expos?across Spain in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center and related organizations through November.
In July, Korea will become the first East Asian country to be invited as the guest of honor at the "La Mar de Musicas" festival in Cartagena. Ten Korean teams will participate, representing genres such as K-pop, hip-hop, ballad, and fusion gugak. The literary event held alongside the festival will feature authors such as Kim Hoyoun, writer of "The Convenience Store in Discomfort," and Jeong Bora, who was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize.
The Korean Cultural Center will also host the "Korea Classical Music Festival" five times in cooperation with local cultural and arts institutions. In July, guitarist Cho Daeyeon, winner of the T?rrega Competition in Spain, will perform at the Granada International Guitar Festival and the Panticosa International Festival in Aragon. In November, cellist Kim Minjeong will hold a recital in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Spain's top arts education institution.
At the "2025 Liber International Book Fair" in Madrid in October, Korea will participate as the "Focus Country." In the same month, Korea will also be the guest of honor at the "Kosmopolis" contemporary literature festival in Barcelona.
Additionally, the joint inter-ministerial "Spain K-Expo" will be held in Madrid in September, organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency. In October and November, the Korean Cultural Center, together with the Amorepacific Foundation, will host the "K-Beauty Festival," where visitors can experience Korean beauty and cosmetics products and technologies.
Yoon Yangsu, Director-General of International Cultural Promotion Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "By showcasing not only Korean pop culture but also high-quality culture and arts from various fields abroad, we aim to elevate Korea's soft power." He added, "We will ensure that Korean Cultural Centers around the world become key players in connecting the achievements of cultural events to diverse sectors by cooperating with institutions and the private sector."
Detailed information about the various cultural events of the "2025 Korea Season" can be found on the official website.
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