South Korea and Thailand to Host 'Soft Power Festival 2024' Celebrating Cultural Exchange
Nov 03, 2024
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On the 9th, the Korean Cultural Center in Thailand and the Korea-Tai Exchange Center (KTCC) will hold Suralai Hall 'Korea-Thailand SoftPower Festival 2024' on the 7th floor of IconSiam in Bangkok. Soft power, a concept that contrasts with hard power such as military power, refers to the influence gained through culture and art.
Thailand is emphasizing the importance of soft power by establishing a national soft power strategy committee headed by the prime minister after COVID-19 and using it as the basis for state affairs. At the ASEAN Summit held in Laos on the 10th of last month, Thai Prime Minister Patton Tan also said "I hope to learn Korea's experience and expertise related to soft power."
The festival, which will feature a large number of cultural government agencies and companies from Korea and Thailand, including the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Thailand, the Ministry of Culture of Thailand, the Korea Creative Content Agency, and the Thai Content Agency, will showcase various traditions and popular culture of the two countries.
The festival consists of a total of three parts, starting with traditional exchange performances between the two countries on the first day, followed by a festival for youth, and a performance and donation on the second day by visiting children's facilities in Nonthaburi.
In Korea, more than 100 professional dancers, including the Seoul Traditional Culture and Arts Promotion Agency and Jeong Art, will visit Thailand to perform a variety of cultural performances, including the royal Hanbok Fashion Show, the Hantae Large Flag Show, traditional Korean dances Taepyeongmu, Jinsoe Dance, and Gilnori. In addition, traditional Thai performances carefully selected by the Thai Ministry of Culture, creative dances for friendly relations between Korea and Taiwan, and performances of Muay Thai and Thai national Taekwondo Poomsae are prepared.
In Part 2 'Festival for Youth', you can meet K-POP and T-POP together. Through the online concert of the Korea Creative Content Agency's 'On the K', performances by SHINee Taemin, Secret Number, ONF, and The Boys will meet Thai fans.
GMM GRAMMY's New Country will also decorate the stage on behalf of Thai music (T-POP), followed by special performances by the winner and runner-up teams of the 2024 Thai K-POP Cover Dance Competition. Of the total 100 teams that participated in the preliminary round in the 'Show your Soft Power" competition, 10 teams, including dance, vocal, magic show, and Muay Thai, will advance to the finals and compete for the championship.
Lastly, the Korean Cultural Center in Thailand, KTCC, Korean performance team, copyright protection agency, and Korean companies in Thailand will visit Rachawadi Home in Nonthaburi on the 10th, the second day of the festival, presenting performances to children and donating Korean products and daily necessities.
The event is expected to serve as a positive opportunity for tourism and exchanges between the two countries, as the number of tourists visiting Korea this year is the only one in Southeast Asia in Thailand, the hub of the Korean Wave in Southeast Asia.
In addition to the Korea Creative Content Agency, the Korea Tourism Organization, the Thai Tourism Organization, the Thai Convention & Exhibition Bureau, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Copyright Protection Agency, the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the Taehan Friendship Association, and the Seoul Traditional Culture & Arts Promotion Agency will participate.
Park Yong-min, Ambassador to Thailand, said, `South Korea and Thailand, which have long had a brotherly relationship, are countries with their own traditions and modern culture.' `Through soft power cooperation, we can further strengthen our friendship and serve as an opportunity for shared growth.'
star77@sportschosun.com
