In photo from left: Tauig City Mayor Mr. Lino Cayetano, DOT Secretary Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Korea’s Ambassador Mr. Kim Inchul, KCC Director Ms. Im Young-a, NCCA Chairman Mr. Arsenio Lizaso
The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines held its ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of its new location last March 23, 2022 with Korea’s Ambassador to the Philippines, KIM Inchul gracing the event. Other private and esteemed guests that attended were DOT’s Secretary, Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Mayor Lino Cayetano of Taguig City; Mr. Arsenio Lizaso, Chairman of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA); DepEd’s Director IV for the Bureau of Curriculum Development Office, Ms. Jocelyn Andaya; Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s Special Projects & External Affairs Unit Manager, and Mr. Frank David Fabros; and BGen. Miguel Villamor, President of Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea Veteran Association.
KCC celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Since its establishment in 2011, KCC continues to create activities, events and projects in relation to its goal of expanding the understanding and appreciation of Korean culture and the promotion of an active cultural exchange between Korea and the Philippines. For the past 10 years, KCC has actively expanded the understanding and appreciation of Korean culture in the Philippines through Pinoy Kpop Star, Korean Film Festival, Global Taste Korea and Korean Culture Caravan. And for the next 10 years, KCC plans on to expand this goal with a cultural collaboration between Korea and the Philippines, and promote Philippine culture to Korea.
KCC’s Director IM YoungA, spoke about the culture collaboration of both countries in her remark, “If the past 10years of Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines focused on introducing Korean culture to Filipinos, of course we’ll keep doing that, then, for the next 10 years, we’ll also try to introduce the Filipino culture to Koreans so we can grow together through the cultural exchange of our countries.”
She also introduced the new theme of Korean Cultural Center at its new home, “This year, with the reopening of the cultural center, we are preparing several important projects under the theme of ‘Phil-Koraboration.’ Murals involving Filipino artists, a “Media art” showcase made by artists from both countries, will be opened to the public. There will be a “Korean Culture Caravan” visiting our future generation, with “Cultural Street Festival” where people can experience culture of both countries. A film industry expert workshop is also waiting to answer your questions.”
As a start of this culture collaboration, KCC currently houses Punghwa: Light of ASEAN, a kinetic media art installation created by interactive media art studio SILO Lab which features lights and sounds that perfectly reflects the shared fondness of Korea and the Philippines to light culture, a practice of wishing into the shining light in the dark sky. It symbolizes hope, confidence and bravery for a new normal after these difficult times.
Starting March 25, 2022, KCC’s doors will be open to the public. There will be no reservation, but KCC follows IATF’s guidelines and as thus, would require guests to present their vaccination card before entering the building and submit to a mandatory temperature check. KCC will be open from 9AM to 4PM every Monday – Friday. It will also be upon every Saturday from 10AM to 4PM every Saturday until May 31, 2022.