Culture Communication Forum tackles issues society-at-large faces today


The challenge of fostering culture-driven communication was the hotly discussed topic at the third Culture Communication Forum in Seoul, Thursday.

Keynote speaker Dominique Wolton ― research director of the French National Centre for Scientific Research ― opened the panel by putting the spotlight on globalization.

Rather than praise technological advances as a driving force in the formation of a more tightly-knit global society, Wolton pinpointed that they also further complicate globalization. 

Wolton warned that unlimited access to data via the Internet not only highlights similarities across boundaries but also differences from country to country, creating the need for tolerance and respect for cultural diversity.

Tolerance, in Wolton’s opinion, does not mean attempting to conform to one universal mold.

“Maintaining linguistic and cultural identity is important,” Wolton said.

In that respect, Wolton pointed to South Korea ― with its “rapid technological development” ― as a nation that “can play an important role in globalization.”

“Korea is currently at a very strategic geopolitical location and it can act as a bridge between the West and the East.”

For South Korea to take on the task of fostering globalization, however, Wolton warned against “excessive nationalism.”

Documentary filmmaker Yi Sun-kyung from Canada, who explored immigration and minorities issues through her films, noted that South Korea is seeing an increasing influx of immigrants and refugees and therefore, in her opinion, will face the challenge of becoming a host country, of having a slew of different cultures converge in one space.

Yi echoed Wolton’s belief in the the need for tolerance, the need to accept and embrace different cultures. Yet, she noted, it is easier said than done.

“As an idea, as a concept, it is a wonderful thing. When you look down right at the street level, it is a lot, more messy.”

Yi expressed her belief that the media and the press should partly shoulder the responsibility of fostering cultural tolerance and diversity.

In that sense, the Culture Communication Forum aims to step up to the plate.

Launched by the Corea Image Communication Institute in 2010, the forum is into its third year.

Institute president Choi Jung-hwa revealed a desire to make the event a “cultural” Davos Forum, where cultural leaders will convene in South Korea to discuss culture-at-large.

“What is really wonderful is that the first time the forum was held, inviting delegates proved difficult,” said Choi. “This time, when the invitations were sent out, our delegates accepted right away.”

The third forum is the first to open under a specific theme: “Communicating Through Culture: The Key to Opening Hearts and Minds.”

At the panel discussion, delegates addressed the issue of communication through culture from various angles.

Seoul National University professor-and-consumer science and trends expert Kim Ran-do noted that cultural disparities are not necessarily solely present on a country-to-country level, but also on generational level.

In Kim’s opinion, the younger generations are undergoing “an age of frustration” and “we have to provide more opportunities” for them.

Delegates also touched upon communication through food and art, praising Korean museums and cuisine for instituting innovative solutions to showcasing indigenous culture and history, and for fusing modern and traditional cuisine into a harmonious whole.

Results of a survey conducted by the Communication Strategy Institute and the Corea Image Communication Institute were also presented on Thursday.

The survey of 152 foreign opinion leaders on their view of Korean culture was conducted from Aug. 7 to Aug. 25. Sports, perhaps due to the summer Olympics, was seen as the most representative of how other countries view hallyu, with Korean cuisine and Korean dramas and films a close second and third, respectively.

This year, a total of 15 delegates from 14 countries attended the three-day forum. Delegates include presenter and host of ABC Australia Geraldine Doogue, Meilleurs Ouvriers de France 2011 chef Eric Trochon and UNESCO Artist for Peace-and-Chinese Kunqu Opera actor Jun Zhang.

The event was hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other numerous organizations and companies.

The forum culminated in a gala dinner on Thursday night featuring an exhibition of traditional Korean wooden figurines and a Korean martial arts performance.
By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldcorp.com)