Indo Korean Center King Sejong Institute Pune & Nami Island Arts & Education make India-Korea 50th anni celebration big

PUNE (INDIA) – Indo Korean Center King Sejong Institute Pune together with Nami Island Arts & Education (NAE) became part of ongoing 50th anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Korea and India. The occasion marked an art exhibition “Tagore and Nature- A River”, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between IKC KSI and NAE, presentations on Korean language ‘Our role for development of Korea-India relationship’, and dance performances. The art exhibition shall remain open for the general people from 19th December to 22nd December 2023 between 12:00pm and 5:00pm at the Indo Korean center, Pune, 1st Floor, Recreational hall.

To mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and India, this year’s Korea-India Artist Camp was held in September for ten days on Nami Island in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province. Ten artists each from both countries gathered in Nami Island, Korea and stayed back to complete their paintings under the theme “Tagore and Nature- A River” to promote bilateral cultural exchange and artistic collaboration. These paintings are now brought in Indo Korean center King Sejong Institute Pune (IKC KSI Pune), for the art exhibition.

Nami Island Arts & Education (NAE), situated on Nami Island, a renowned destination with abundance of natural flora and fauna in Korea, is known for hosting international cultural festivals and engaging in various international arts and cultural exchange activities with a wide network of institutions across different countries including India being a prominent partner. NAE is dedicated to offering experiences that enhance cultural sensitivity by fostering interactions with nature.

Korea-India bilateral relationship boasts of longstanding historical and cultural ties, spanning over two millennia. The two countries forged diplomatic relations in 1973, paving the way for a sound and steady development in bilateral relations across a wide range of area, including politics, economy and culture. Cultural exchanges between India and South Korea have strengthened over the years. Efforts to promote people-to-people contact and understanding have included events, festivals, and educational exchanges.

On that momentous occasion which had captivated art enthusiasts and cultural enthusiasts alike, the Indo Korean Center (IKC) and NAE proudly announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony along with opening of the art exhibition held on 16th December 2023. Adding a unique dimension to the event, talented dancers learning Korean language from IKC KSI Pune had graced the stage, breathing life into the paintings through an enchanting performance.

Further enriching the experience, students from the IKC KSI Pune had taken the stage with articulate presentations on Korean language regarding ‘Our role for development of Korea-India relationship’. Approximately 200 people had attended the event held on 16th December.

As the event continued on 17th December, students of IKC KSI Pune presented their dance performances against iconic backdrops of Shaniwar Wada and also in vibrant Phoenix mall, Viman Nagar as an opening performance of the ‘Eldorado’ dance drama. The students had showcased the rich tapestry of Indo-Korean cultural fusion through a series of captivating performances. The art exhibition shall remain open for the general people from 19th December to 22nd December 2023 between 12:00pm and 5:00pm at the Indo Korean center, Pune, 1st Floor, Recreational hall.

About King Sejong Institute Pune: Indo-Korean Center (IKC) located at the Youth Build Foundation has been established with the objective of providing a platform to facilitate opportunities for the general public and to connect Indian & Korean people. On July 2023, this center have received the designation of an independent King Sejong Institute Pune (푸네 세종학당) by the King Sejong Foundation under Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Republic of Korea. IKC KSI Pune will provide Korean language and culture level based certificate programs based on the curriculum designed in Korea by the King Sejong Institute Foundation for general people. Corporate employee training in Korean language & culture will also be provided. Classes will be conducted by native Korean teachers. It has all modern facilities for training in Korean language and culture, featuring a smart classroom, recreational zone, executive office, library, cafeteria and has a fusion of Indo-Korean work culture. The admission for the Korean Language and Culture will begin from January 2024.

About King Sejong Institute Foundation: King Sejong Institute Foundation is a public institution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Republic of Korea, in order to manage overseas Korean Language education and to extend Korean culture. It introduces Korean and Korean culture to foreigners and is working to make their interests in Korea develop into their better understandings and love for Korea. There are 248 KSI’s in the world and the 7th KSI in India is IKC KSI Pune.