한국대중문화 이외에 다양한 한국의 모습을 알리기 위해 한국국제교류재단은 5월 16일부터 8월 23일까지 아세안 6개국에서 ‘Korea Festival’을 개최한다. 

이번 문화 행사는 인도네시아, 싱가포르, 필리핀, 베트남, 미얀마, 태국등 6개국에서 열리며, 미술전시, 춤, 음악 공연 및 양자포럼, 한국학 세미나 등이 열릴 계획이다. 

이번 페스티벌은 단발성, 단일 장르의 행사에서 벗어나 다양한 장르의 예술분야, 한국학, 공공외교 분야를 다룰 예정이다. 

윤금진 문화예술교류부장은 “’Korea Festival’은 문화예술, 학술 행사, 포럼 등 재단의 역량을 한꺼번에 묶어 다양한 한국의 문화를 소개한다는 취지” 라며 “한국 대중문화에 익숙한 아세안 현지인들에게 보다 폭넓고 균형잡힌 한국과 한국문화를 소개하는데 도움이 될 것으로 기대한다”고 말했다. 

문화예술행사로는 국립현대미술관과 함께 개최하는 ‘한국 현대편화 50년’ 전시가 인도네시아와 필리핀에서 열린다. 그 외 클래식 공연, 현대무용, 퓨전 국악 등 다채로운 공연이 선사될 예정이다. 

학술행사로는 인도네시아, 필리핀, 베트남, 태국에서 한국학 특강시리즈 등이 계획되어 있다. 

올해는 작년 브라질에서 처음 열린 페스티벌과는 달리 현지 예술인과의 협연 및 소통을 통한 현지와의 교류확대에 초점이 맞춰져 있다. 

미얀마에서는 현대무용 공연을 한국과 미얀마 무용수들이 함께 꾸미며, 앙상블 시나위도 인도네시아, 필리핀, 베트남에서 현지 예술가들과 즉흥 협연무대를 선사한다. 

클래식 실내악단 ‘서울챔버소사이어티’는 인도네시아의 한 재활원에서 재능기부 공연을 선사한다.

(코리아헤럴드 이우영) 

<관련 영문 기사>

Korea Foundation introduces diverse Korean culture to Southeast Asians

By Lee Woo-young

With Korean pop culture commanding a significant fanbase in Southeast Asian countries, efforts are being made to introduce a more diverse range of Korean culture.

One such effort is the Korea Festival which aims to introduce Korean music, dance performances and art exhibitions to Southeast Asian countries. 

Organized by the Korea Foundation, a state-run organization that promotes Korean studies and culture aboard, the Korea Festival will take place in Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand from May 16-Aug. 23. 

The festival will feature art exhibitions, music concerts and dance performances that show a blend of traditional Korean culture and contemporary features, lectures and seminars on Korean studies, and bilateral forums on public diplomacy. 

“The Korea Foundation expects the event to introduce diverse aspects of Korean culture in a balanced way to Southeast Asians who are more familiar with K-pop and Korean TV dramas and movies,” said Yoon Keum-jin, director of culture and arts department of the KF Cultural Center, on Friday.

“We hope we don’t stop here as one-time event, but continue the event every year,” said Yoon. The KF held the first Korea Festival in Brazil last year. 

The festival features touring events, including an exhibition of Korean print works that will be held at the National Museum of Indonesia and Metropolitan Museum of Manila to show the development of Korea’s print culture and experimental creations in prints. 

Fusion music band Ensemble Sinawi, known for mixing traditional Korean music with classical and popular music, will hold concerts in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore, where they will also put on a collaborative performance with local musicians including Philippines’ Grace NoNo, Indonesian violinist Fafan Isfandiar and Vietnamese B-boy team Big Tow. 

The Seoul Chamber Society will meet classical music fans in Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines with familiar classical music. The musical group is also planning a visit to local charity group Yayasan Heesu located outside of Jakarta, Indonesia, and holding a charity concert there. 

Contemporary dance performances by Eunju Shin Dance Company and EDX2 Dance Company are expected show a new level of Korean dance to the Southeast Asian audience with a new interpretation of traditional Korean dance by Eunju Shin Dance Company and hip-hop-based popular dance moves mixed with contemporary features by EDX2 Dance Company. 

The dance teams will tour in Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar, where they will perform jointly with local dancers to facilitate future cultural exchanges.

Leaders of Korea and the participating countries will hold bilateral discussions on social, economical and cultural exchanges while Korean studies-related events and bilateral forums on public diplomacy will be held to contribute to people’s understanding of Korean culture and enhance bilateral relations. 

(wylee@heraldcorp.com)