By Yun Suh-young
The 4th Arab Cultural Festival opened Thursday for a four-day run at Coex, Samsung-dong in southern Seoul. The event is being organized by the Korea-Arab Society in collaboration with embassies of Arab countries.
The event features a photography exhibition organized by the Oman Journalist Association, a Palestinian dance performance, an Omani fashion show, Arab tourism display, and an Arab food tasting and costume trying. Participants will also be able to experience Arab calligraphy and henna tattooing.
Korea-Arab Society President SaKong Il, concurrently chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), attended the opening ceremony along with First Vice Foreign Minister Park Suk-hwan, Korean Ambassador to Oman Choe Jong-hyun and ambassadors from Arab countries.
Established in 1930, the Sareyyet Ramallah Troupe for Music and Dance has developed the Palestinian dance genre for decades despite national difficulties.
The fashion show is also the first of its kind to introduce Arabic fashion to Korea. Oman's fashion designer, Anisa Moosa Al-Zidgali, will display modern adaptations of traditional Arab clothes and hijab.
The photography exhibition is composed of more than 200 pictures taken by nine award-winning Omani photographers. Their themes range from natural landscapes to the Omani people. The display aims to promote Koreans’ understanding of Arabic culture in general and Omani culture in particular.