Neighborly Russia Party Hits Sunday
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Last Sunday saw a highly informative and enjoyable Russian cultural party showing the country's food, vodka and various dances with the participation of some 145 people present including 14 foreign ambassadors and their wives at a party, co-organized by The Gaon, a private social club in South Korea and the Russian Embassy in Seoul.
The party, titled "Neighborly Russia," brought leading Korean professionals and foreign envoys together in a fun cultural exchange at the Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel.
Among other things, the food was specially selected by the Russian Embassy in order to give those present an authentic taste of the real Russia. They were borsch (Russian tomato-beetroot soup), pancakes with salmon, beefsteak with onion and romantika desert.
After dinner, Russian musical performances followed in which everyone was invited to join in dance.
"We prepared a variety of interesting programs to enjoy excellent Russian culture with the help of the Russian Embassy, and I hope everyone here has a good time and makes friends during our party while appreciating traditional Russian dance with Russian food," Charles Hwang, president of The Gaon, said.
The Gaon organized its second regular party with the Russian Embassy to help its club members and diplomats experience the exotic culture of Russia. It organizes a party with a foreign embassy twice a year, during spring and fall, just to promote friendship and understanding of other cultures.
The three main themes of The Gaon's party are food, wine and dance, and this time the drink used for the toast was of course vodka.
"The Gaon is a private social club composed of professionals from various fields, who have a strong interest and enthusiasm in world culture," Hwang said. "I hope our club becomes a channel between the diplomatic community and Korean people to share their cultures and to promote friendship."
Russian Ambassador Gleb Ivashentsov agreed with Hwang as the party provided a good venue and opportunity to show each other's cultures.
Other ambassadors and their wives echoed the same view.
The ambassadors and their spouses at the event were from Belgium, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tunisia, Uruguay, and the United Arab Emirates.
Hwang has been leading the club since 2002, at which stage it was in a different form, and reorganized it last year. For his work in furthering the diplomatic community in Seoul,
Park Moo-jong, president-publisher of The Korea Times said, while proposing a toast, that his paper supports The Gaon's party for its contribution to the diplomatic community. Ivashentsov also gave him an appreciation plaque for his contribution to Korea-Russia relations.
The Russian party had a surprise musical performance: "million scarlet rose," which was sung and a bouquet of roses was given to Sonia Masood, wife of Pakistani Ambassador Khalid Masood. The couple is returning to Pakistan this month after finishing a two-year service here.
The surprise show originated from the diplomatic corps' farewell party for Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations as he was so happy to receive the bouquet late last year.