The Embassy of Korea in cooperation with the DQ General Authority hosted the Korean Culture Night: Ahlan Korea last April 15, 2019 at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter with over 600 people in attendance. Korea’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. JO ByungWook welcomed everyone and praised the growing influence of Korean culture all over the world. “The culture industry in Korea nowadays is not only growing domestically but also thrilling and satisfying various customers all over the world including Saudi Arabia, contributing to spread its pop culture; K-pop, K-dance, K-drama, K-beauty, to name a few. I am truly proud and thankful for that.”
The evening began with a buffet of authentic Korean cuisine prepared by members of the Korean community. Attendees were treated to dishes like the beef bulgogi, tteokk-bokki (stir fried rice cake) and songpyeon (rice cake dessert). After which, guests proceeded to the auditorium for the main show where a young Saudi lady and gentleman — who both seem to be experts in the Korean culture, served as the masters of ceremonies.
A Korean folk band called R.O.K. Dream kicked off the performances, showcasing traditional songs and instruments with their melodic talents and charismatic stage presence. They were followed by a sand artist named Chai Seungwoong, who presented world-renowned landmarks along with a story of Korea and Saudi Arabia relations through his unique sand art skills. His remarkable creations had the audience at awe. Finally, the K-pop dance group called ARTBEAT set the energy of the crowd higher as they performed a medley of dance routines that got everyone smiling and applauding until the last note. It was their first ever international performance outside of Korea.
The Korean Embassy will soon host more cultural events within the year, including a K-pop contest, a taekwondo tournament and even a Korean film festival.
