Kurdistan Region of Iraq participates in cultural showcase at SNU

Kurdish students perform a Korean fan dance during the 1st Korea-Kurdistan Region of Iraq Culture Exchange Program in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

By Bereket Alemayehu

• Published Apr 3, 2025 12:44 PM KST
• Updated Apr 3, 2025 5:59 PM KST

A Korean fan dance troupe performed by Kurdish students mesmerized an audience at a convention center in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday.

The performers blended Korean improvised traditional music and customs with Kurdish popular dancing and traditional attire.

This unique cultural blending was a showcase of the 1st Korea & Iraqi Kurdistan International Exchange Performance, running from March 25 to April 2. A collaboration between the Iraqi Kurdistan Education Center and students from Seoul National University's (SNU) College of Music, it featured performances including Korean traditional fan dance and Kurdish traditional dance, music featuring the daf, a traditional Kurdish percussion instrument, and a Korean traditional instrument ensemble, Kurdish dance, poetry reading and Korean music.

The Kurdish people are an Indo-European ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan, which spans parts of southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq and northern Syria. They are estimated to number between 30 million and 45 million.

“I understand the deep significance of the (Kurdish) people's heritage," Hwang Jun-seok, director of SNU Global R&DB Center, said during his opening remarks. "I know that scripture once flowed there like a river streaming through the desert. We learned from our ancestors that peace, love and dancing, culture is the only way we can remember and share the joy. For that, I feel grateful.”

One of the event organizers, Nabaz T. Khayyat, executive director of AWA Organization for Sustainable Development, said that events like this are vital in building people-to-people connections, which complement diplomatic and economic relations.

"Seeing Korean attendees engage with Kurdish traditions — and vice versa — reinforces how cultural dialogue can turn strangers into friends," he said. "It was inspiring to witness the enthusiasm from both communities."

Currently, around 10 students from the Kurdistan region of Iraq are studying in Korea in fields like engineering, medicine, IT and politics. They serve as informal ambassadors, enriching campuses with Kurdish perspectives while absorbing Korea’s academic excellence.

He appreciated and thanked Koreans for their warmth toward the Kurdish community in Korea and encouraged international residents to share their heritage boldly because it matters. He said the presence of a diverse international community makes Korea more vibrant.

In his congratulatory speech, Jang Sang-woo, first secretary of the Middle East Division of the African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed appreciation for the fan dance performers.

“I believe a genuine connection between people is possible only when we meet the hearts and minds of others," Jang said. "It is a precious bridge connecting our hearts. My friend, who served as a member of the Zaytun Division in the Kurdistan Region, received exceptional hospitality from the local people, and I am confident that such a mutual exchange and enhanced understanding create genuine friendship. You are trying to connect your hearts and our hearts through dance and songs, the universal language of humanity. Performing Korean dance and a mixture of Korean and Kurdish music, you will leave a profound impression on the hearts of the Korean and Iraqi people, including Kurdish people.”

The Zaytun Division was a Republic of Korea Army contingent operating in Iraq from September 2004 to December 2008. It deployed 3,600 troops to Iraq, primarily engineers and medics, focusing on peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts during the Second Gulf War.

Ismaiel Mersham, a naturalized Korean and a doctorate holder originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, participated alongside his friends in the event.

"I have been interested in this program for a long time, as I previously attempted to work on something similar," Mersham, a lecturer at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said. "I also discovered notable similarities between Korean and Kurdish cultures, such as shared words, traditional clothing and a deep respect for elders and those in senior positions. Hopefully, more events like this will be organized in the future to foster deeper understanding and mutual benefits between the Korean and Kurdish people. Such cultural exchanges undoubtedly bring people closer together and enhance mutual appreciation of each other's countries."

For Iranian student Shahab Rafiei, studying for a doctorate student in metallurgical engineering in Korea, the cultural performances were a nostalgic experience. He said that he was deeply engrossed, as they closely resonated with his own culture in Iran.

The Kurdistan Students' Korean Fan Dance Troupe has scheduled visits to several iconic tourist sites, including the DMZ, Hongdae, COEX, Gangnam, Insa-dong, Myeong-dong and Yeouido.

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.