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Egyptian twin sisters reflect on 11 years of sharing Korea with world
Korea.net Honorary Reporters Salwa Elzeny Mostafa, left, and her twin sister Esraa, visit the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 30, 2018. Courtesy of Salwa Elzeny Mostafa
By Kim Se-jeong
Honorary reporters recall meeting with former first lady Kim Jung-sook as most memorable experience
For Salwa Elzeny Mostafa, and her twin sister Esraa, the fascination with Korea began with K-dramas and K-pop — just like many fans around the world.
But their decision 11 years ago to become Honorary Reporters for Korea.net, a promotional website run by the Korean government, brought their experience and understanding of Korea to a whole new level. Now, they are among the longest-serving members of the program.
“Our journey with Korean culture began over 20 years ago. Our love for Korea started in middle school, when we first watched Korean dramas like ‘Winter Sonata’ (2002) and ‘Boys Over Flowers’ (2009), and listened to K-pop groups like Girls’ Generation, T-ARA, SS501, Super Junior and CNBLUE on Egyptian TV,” Salwa told The Korea Times during a recent Zoom interview.
After graduating university, the twins joined Korea.net's Facebook page, called “Korea Clickers,” where they discovered the Honorary Reporter program. Launched 15 years ago by the Korean government, the program produces a variety of content on Korea in 10 languages, some of which is published on Korea.net. The twins write in Arabic and English.
In 2015, Salwa became the first Egyptian accepted into the program, with Esraa joining shortly after. In 2016, both were named among the top 12 reporters.
Meeting with former first lady
The program allowed them to attend cultural, diplomatic and academic events related to Korea and meet a wide range of people. Among those encounters, one stands out: former first lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of former President Moon Jae-in, who served from 2017 to 2022.
“In 2018, while we were in Korea, we visited the Cheong Wa Dae (then-Korean presidential office and residence),” Salwa recalled. “Shortly after we returned home, Korea.net invited Honorary Reporters based in Korea to meet the first lady — but we were no longer there.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the twins wrote about Korea’s successful quarantine efforts. The article reached and moved the first lady, who publicly praised their work during a ceremony in May 2021. She later invited the sisters to a cultural event in Cairo during her visit to Egypt in January 2022.
Salwa Elzeny Mostafa, right, and her twin sister Esraa take a selfie with former first lady Kim Jung-sook during her visit to Egypt on Jan. 20, 2022. Courtesy of Esraa Elzeny Mostafa
“Meeting the first lady of a country is not something ordinary — especially one that’s thousands of kilometers away from Egypt. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us,” Salwa said.
Other figures they've met include Korean American celebrity chef Judy Joo and artist Kang Ik-joong. Most recently, they interviewed the Korean fusion music ensemble Queen, who visited Egypt to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
As this year marks their 11th anniversary as Honorary Reporters, the Korean government recognized their long-term commitment and passion for Korea.
“I can feel their passion for Korea in every piece they submit,” said an official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism who oversees the program. “And it’s not just me — my colleagues agree that they are truly dedicated.”
Beyond Egypt
Their activities as Honorary Reporters extend beyond Egypt. In 2022, they reported on the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
“Although we didn’t fly there, we watched it live as a family,” Salwa said. “Jungkook’s performance amazed us. His voice during the opening song was incredibly powerful and moving. It gave us goosebumps.”
Inspired by the excitement, the twins wrote an article on K-pop, including interviews of BTS fans in Arab countries.
“The passion and pride they expressed were unforgettable and it reminded us of how powerful Korean culture is in bringing people together across borders.”
Through the program, the twins have visited Korea and traveled across the country.
In 2018, they took a bold step: both quit their jobs in Egypt and spent a year studying at the Seoul Institute of Technology and Education. During that stay, they attended live performances by BTS and BLACKPINK and explored Korea more in depth.
Korea.net Honorary Reporters Salwa Elzeny Mostafa, left, and her twin sister Esraa visit the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 30, 2018. Courtesy of Salwa Elzeny Mostafa
Dream to meet Han Kang, Lee Min-ho
Looking ahead, Salwa hopes to interview novelist Han Kang, who last year became the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in literature.
“Many of her novels had already been translated into Arabic in Egypt, even before she won the prize. I’m deeply inspired by her writing and would be honored to speak with her one day,” she said.
Esraa, meanwhile, dreams of interviewing her favorite actor, Lee Min-ho, best known for his roles in "Boys Over Flowers" and the Apple TV+ series "Pachinko" (2022).
The twin said Egyptian people are big fans of Korean ramyeon (instant noodles) and gochujang (red chili paste).
"Egyptians enjoy eating gochujang alone. I make tteokbokki (simmered rice cakes) with gochujang," Salwa said, adding tteokbokki is one of her favorite Korean dishes. "It’s always a joy to make it, especially for family and friends."