For opinion leaders who want to join Korea’s social nexus, the Korea Cultural Quotient Club has provided opportunities weaving diplomacy, business, education, gastronomy and the arts for the last 10 years.

Launched by the Corea Image Communications Institute in 2006, the club has acted as a platform for promoting Korean culture, exchanging ideas and fostering friendships among its members.

At Malaysian Ambassador Rohana Ramli’s residence in Seoul, the club’s 20th class was launched for the 25 new members ― diplomats, bankers, businesspeople, artists, educators, doctors and lawyers ― who will participate in culturally and intellectually engaging activities for the rest of the year. 

On Sept. 22, CQ members will experience Korean fine dining, stimulating the five senses at Min’s Kitchen restaurant in Seoul. On Oct. 13, Korean violinist Kim Joo-hyun will give a performance and lecture at the Irish ambassador’s residence in Seoul.

In October, members will go on a two-day trip to Korea’s heritage sites, and try pottery-making and cooking at Yido Dining restaurant and china gallery in Seoul. They will later in the year listen to Google Korea director Mickey Kim’s lecture on why global talents congregate at Google at the Singaporean ambassador’s residence.

Wine-tasting events, outdoor photography trips and horseback riding, hiking, water skiing, snowboarding and skiing activities will also be organized.


The CICI, in a grand international forum Wednesday at Westin Chosun Hotel, will discuss how to globalize Korean culture by gathering opinions from the world’s leading creative industry figures.

Korean jazz singer Nah Youn-sun will sing traditional Korean folk song “Arirang” partnering Japanese guitarist Jiro Yoshida, which will be joined by some 300 guests, including U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert, former Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jong.

The speakers at the forum include Indian festival director Sanjoy Roy, French cultural director Jean D’Haussonville, American musician Rob Moose, Canadian cartoonist Terry Mosher, Chinese artistic director Wang Jun, former Japanese broadcaster Tomoyo Nonaka, Russian television anchor Arina Sharapova, Indonesian sculptor Sri Astari Rasjid, Turkish architect Nevzat Sayin, German journalist Susanne Koelbl, Argentine museum director Nora Iniesta and British cultural policy adviser Alice Sherwood. 


CICI president Choi Jung-hwa and Didier Beltoise, president of hospitality consulting firm CS, were appointed to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games Advisory Committee.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)