KF뉴스레터-Celebrating Spanish Culture in 2003

Celebrating Spanish Culture in 2003

Spain is the country of world-renowned painter Picasso and Western architecture maestro Gaudi, of dynamic bullfighting and glamorous flamenco. It is a country filled with the passion of the sun and a uniquely magnificent and beautiful culture.

The first European on record to land on the Korean peninsula was Gregorio de Cespedes, a Spanish Jesuit priest propagating Christianity in Japan. He visited Korea in 1593 during the Imjinwaeran, or Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea, and stayed here for about a year. It was the first encounter between Korea and Spain. The two countries drew closer when Blasco Ibanez, a Spanish journalist and writer, wrote a book about his journey to East Asia at the end of the Joseon period. An Ik-tae, the Korean composer who wrote Korea's national anthem, married a Spanish woman in 1945. He composed many works while living in Spain, where there is even a street named after him. Spain seems to be a country that has a deep connection with Korea in many ways.

This year a festival of Spanish culture is being held in Korea on the largest scale since the two countries opened diplomatic relations in 1950. The 2003, Spain Year festival, organized by the Spanish Embassy in Korea, is providing Korean people with an opportunity to intimately appreciate various aspects of Spanish culture. The festival will include events highlighting Spain's music, fine arts, cinema and literature. Other events covering the fields of economy, science, society and academia have been held all year long. The Foundation supported the performance of a Spanish choir, the Millennium Vocal Group, in Korea and sponsored the Korea-Spanish Forum at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul on November 13 and 14.

Performance of Millennium Vocal Group Supported

With Foundation support, Spain's Millennium Vocal Group performed at the New Millennium Hall at Konkuk University on October 2 and received an enthusiastic response from the Korean audience. The Millennium Vocal Group was founded in 1999 by Lim Jae-sik, a Korean chief of tenors for the RTVE (Spanish Radio-Television) choir. Composed of RTVE choir members, the group also performed at the Jeonju Sori Festival and the Seoul District Association of Mayors.

The Millennium Vocal Group attracts attention, not just because they sing well, but because they sing Korean songs. Lim Jae-sik, who went to Spain to study Western music, fell in love with Korean music instead. He wanted to make Korean songs enjoyable for Spanish people. He introduced Korean music to Spanish audiences, who recognized its excellence. His achievements were acknowledged in 2000 when he was recognized by the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In 2001, his story was also broadcast on KBS in a program entitled Report on Koreans Abroad.

Korea-Spain Forum
Korea-Spain Forum in Seoul, Nov. 13-14

The Foundation and the Casa Asia, under the directorship of Ion de la Riva, were the organizers of the Korea-Spain Forum in Seoul on November 13 and 14, which was attended by thirty-two Korean and twenty Spanish leaders. Forum participants exchanged opinions on matters of mutual concern including politics, security, economy, culture and education. The forum's topics included North Korea's nuclear weapons development, prospects for economic cooperation between South Korea and Spain, and ways to promote cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries.

Introducing Korean culture to Spain is as important as approaching and understanding Spanish culture in the right way. In this sense, 2003, Spain Year, provides Koreans with many opportunities to practically experience Spanish culture without actually visiting Spain. For more information, please visit the 2003, Year of Spain website, at www.2003esko.com.

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Celebrating Spanish Culture in 2003

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Celebrating Spanish Culture in 2003

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