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| Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi, fourth from left, pose with guests during the opening of the Shiraz Day photo exhibition at the library of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) Seoul campus, May 2. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The Embassy of Iran in Seoul is hosting a photo exhibition celebrating the rich culture and tradition of the Iranian city of Shiraz on the occasion of Shiraz Day.
The exhibition, held at the library of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) Seoul campus, showcased photos of Shiraz, from mosques and monuments to gardens and relics, giving a peek into the Iranian city. It was organized in cooperation with the university's department of Persian and Iranian studies.
Expressing his enthusiasm, the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi expressed delight in meeting scholars and students who share an interest in Persian and Iranian studies during the exhibition's opening, on May 2.
"This is the first time for us to hold a photo exhibition to introduce the history and beauty of the city of Shiraz to Korea. Shiraz City designated 'Ordibehesht 15' in the Iranian calendar, which falls on May 5, as National Shiraz Day in light of its historical and cultural importance," he said during the opening ceremony at the library's hall of fame.
"This month is a great time to visit Shiraz to experience its natural beauty such as the greenery and fragrance of orange blossoms."
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| Photos of Iranian city of Shiraz are on display at the library of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) Seoul campus, May 2, during a photo exhibition commemorating Shiraz Day. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo |
Ambassador Koozechi noted that Shiraz is also known as the home of prominent Iranian poets such as Hafez and Saadi.
"A city of centuries of history, Shiraz has been at the forefront of science, literature, poetry and art, and has nurtured Cyrus the Great, who founded the Achaemenid Empire, and two of the most famous Iranian poets, Hafez and Saadi," he explained.
"The cultural character of Shiraz is as remarkable as its history and poet Saadi once said, compared to Shiraz, places like Syria, Egypt, or anywhere else in the world are merely rural areas."
He briefly touched on major historical sites and tourist attractions in Shiraz including Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rostam, the tomb of Cyrus the Great, the Quran Gate, the tombs of Hafez and Saadi, the Vakil Mosque, the Pars Museum, the Vakil Bazaar, the Arg of Karim Khan, the Eram Garden and the Delgosha Garden, shown in the photos displayed at the library's hall of fame as well as at the staircase.
"It is a great pleasure to organize the Shiraz Photo Exhibition at HUFS for the first time, and given that Iran and Korea have more than 1,000 years of historical and cultural ties, I believe that this event will provide a window of exchange and cooperation for people in the fields of knowledge, culture, literature and art from both countries," ambassador Koozechi said.
"I am confident that this photo exhibition will not only contribute to expanding cultural and academic ties between our two countries, but will also have a positive impact on cooperation and development between HUFS and Shiraz in particular, and other cities in Iran in general."
The exhibit runs through May 8.
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