First lady embarks on public diplomacy in Madrid

First lady Kim Keon-hee, second from left, attends an exhibition of Korean fashion at the Korean Cultural Center in Madrid, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Lee Hae-rin

First lady Kim Keon-hee, who accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol on his official trip to the 2022 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Madrid, has taken part in some diplomatic activities.

Kim visited the Korean Cultural Center in Madrid, Tuesday, praising the center's staff for their dedication in promoting Korean culture.

Kim is the first presidential spouse to visit the center since its opening in 2011. Korean Cultural Centers are located in major cities across the globe and hold exhibitions, film screenings, language classes and experience programs to promote Korean culture.

She attended the fashion exhibition, "Lo Viejo Viste Lo Nuevo" (The Old Wears the New)," by Korean designer Kim A-young which was showcased on the first floor of the center.

The center's director Oh Ji-hoon explained that it is the center's first fashion exhibition and that they selected hanbok-styled costumes to promote Korean fashion.

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Kim showed particular interest in the clothes made of rayon. Praising the high quality of the Korean textile, she remarked "Korean culture can be applicable in a creative manner."

While touring around the center's craft workshop, and Korean language classrooms on the second floor, Kim asked about Spanish people's growing interest in Korean culture.

Then Kim had a meeting with the center's staff and center director Oh.

First lady Kim Keon-hee, center, first row, poses with the staff of the Korean Cultural Center in Madrid, Tuesday. Yonhap

"I thank you for your hard work in promoting Korean culture in Spain," Kim said in her opening speech, explaining that the growing popularity of Korean culture and food in Spain is due to the center staff's dedication.

"This small space can show everything about Korea … I can feel that the staff here are proud of Korean culture and promote it and I appreciate that," Kim said.

The center staff said that Spanish people's interest in Korean architecture, cinema, pop music and language has grown, citing several requests from locals about K-culture events, in the smaller cities.

In response, Kim encouraged them to continue to work on increasing Spanish people's interest in Korean culture in every aspect of their lives, including music, fashion, beauty and food.

Before Yoon's inauguration, Kim had served as the CEO of Covana Contents, a company that specialized in organizing art exhibitions.

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