Abuja- The Director of Korean Cultural Centre, Mr Kwon Ik, on Thursday in Abuja, said the 2015 Korean New Year celebration would strengthen cultural synergy between both countries.
He said this during the celebration of that country’s Real New Year Day called `Seollal’ at the cultural centre.
Ik said the event would feature traditional folk songs, Korean pop dance performance and games to enrich cultural exchange between Korea and Nigeria.
“It will help others to understand culture and create deep memory of our New Year’s day in Nigeria in 2015.
“As you are all aware in May 2010, the Government of the Republic of Korea established the Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja for the first time on the African continent.
“The centre has been passionately working on meaningful exchanges between the two countries in the areas of art, culture, education and sports, among others.’’
The director said that the centre in 2015 would strive to enhance mutual understanding between Korea and Nigeria by working hard on cultural exchange programmes.
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He added that the centre would extend its open door policy to Nigerians who were willing to use the centre for cultural activities.
Ik said the “seollal’’ was one of the most significant traditional Korean holidays where many people returned to their hometowns to
reunite with their families.
He said the event featured the performance of an ancestral ritual called `Charae’ where Koreans dressed in colourful traditional attaire called `Hanbok.’’
Mr Seyi Womiloju, the Director of Cultural Industry, who represented the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, pledged to strengthen cultural relationship in both countries.
He said the Korea New Year could be likened to the moon light play in Nigeria and urged Nigerians to follow the steps of the Koreans in holding festivals that would keep culture alive.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Koreans celebrate the New Year Day based on the lunar calendar (Solnal) and had done so for thousands of years. (NAN)
