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| Fans take pictures of Korean boy band Infinite performing at the Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City as part of the "K-Soul in Mexico" festival, Sunday. President Park attended the event, packed with 3,200 people, as part of her efforts to promote Korean culture in the Latin American country. / Joint press corps |
Park's cultural diplomacy in full swing
By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye stepped up cultural diplomacy on her second day in Mexico, Monday, to capitalize on the growing popularity of the Korean cultural wave or "hallyu" there.
Park, who is now on her first four-day official visit to the country, attended a festival of Korean culture including a K-pop concert and taekwondo performances.
Previously, she toured the National Museum of Anthropology ― home to some 600,000 artifacts including those from the Aztec and Mayan civilizations before their conquest by the Spanish.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, there are 2 million taekwondo practitioners and 140,000 fans of the Korean wave in Mexico, making it the center of hallyu in the region. It said Park's cultural diplomacy will pave the way to strengthen the foundation of the bilateral ties beyond cultural relations between Korea and Mexico.
The cultural event "K-Soul in Mexico" was packed with 3,200 people ― mostly young Mexican fans of the Korean wave ― and featured a fusion performance of the two nations' popular folk songs Korea's Arirang and Mexico's Besame Mucho by two of the countries' orchestras as well as demonstrations of taekwondo and a mini concert staged by Korean boy band Infinite.
Following the show at the Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City, the President took the stage to thank all fans of Korean culture.
"I am very happy to see all of you enjoy Korean culture," Park said.
"Watching the beautiful harmony that the two countries had on the stage, I think that we should work together to generate more events presenting this cultural fusion for a global audience."
She added that Korea will make efforts to create more opportunities in the future.
Wrapping up her attendance, Park said in Spanish, "Muchas gracias. Adios."
During the President's visit to the museum, which lasted more than an hour, she learned about the legacy of the Aztec and Mayan civilizations.
Park was accompanied by Jose Luis Martinez, director general of International Affairs at Mexico's Ministry of Culture, and Antonio Saborit, director of the museum, and visited the Maya Chamber, the Teotihuacan Hall and the Mexica Hall.
According to the presidential office, the National Museum of Korea is seeking to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Mexican National Museum of Anthropology to expand cultural exchanges.
"President Park's visit to the museum and the cultural festival will contribute to promoting cultural exchange between Korea and Mexico, which will eventually boost bilateral ties," Park's office said in a statement.
President Park has made efforts to promote Korean culture during her overseas trips, regarding the culture industry as a future growth engine due to the growing global popularity of the nation's culture exports, including soap operas and music.
Meanwhile, President Park will hold a summit with her Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto today to discuss bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of new economic growth, such as energy, construction of transportation infrastructure, ICT, science, technology and the health and medical sectors. A total of 144 Korean companies and business entities are accompanying President Park in Mexico.
Bilateral trade volume between the two countries stood at $14.4 billion last year, with Seoul's exports amounting to $10.8 billion and imports totaling $3.4 billion.
Park is scheduled to return home Wednesday.
