The director of the Korean Cultural Centre in Cairo, Yang Sang Keun, met with a group of journalists this week at the centre in Dokki to discuss the centre’s cultural programme.

The “Scent of Korea” performance by YI-DO or E-DO ensemble took place this week. They are composed of six talented musicians, led by Kyung-Hwa, Yu, who is credited with reviving the chulhyungeum, an ancient instrument from Korea that was almost on the verge of extinction.

The ensemble gave a concert on Sunday 9 September at the Alexandria Opera House and on Tuesday 11 September at the Cairo Opera House Main Hall.  

“In October, a popular Korean drums troupe is scheduled to give a concert; Korean cultural days including musical performances, film screenings, and Korean food festivals will be organised in Luxor on 31 October and on 28 November in Aswan,” said Yang.

He added that the centre has a special interest in reaching Egypt’s remote governorates, to introduce Korean culture and arts there.

At the end of the year, “a Korean food festival will be held at one of the five-star hotels in Cairo, introducing the traditional Korean cuisine to the Egyptian public” he said.  

Yang also said that many Egyptian troupes had put on shows in Seoul and other Korean cities in past years “but we are looking for more.”

He affirmed that he will discuss future cultural cooperation in different art field with the head of the Academy of Arts and of the Artists Syndicate, Ashraf Zaki, in the coming days.

There are also plans for an art exhibition featuring a group of Korean contemporary visual artists in 2019.