By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
If it weren't for the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Velvet Revolution in the former Czechoslovakia 20 years ago a photo exhibition currently underway would not have been possible.
The exhibits depicted people living under suppression, rebelling against the regime, and fleeing the country via whatever means possible during the communist rule, which spanned almost four decades until 1989.
Likewise, without democratization in Korea, Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa Jr. said, the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain last week in Seoul wouldn't have been possible, either.
That's why Olsa decided to hold a third exhibition on the fall of the communist regime in the East European country ― only a few weeks after he held the first two at Yonsei University and Seoul National University, last month.
The Slovak Embassy has also organized a photo exhibition under the same theme.
This time around, the exhibition was even more lively and touching, as it was accompanied with the authentic flavors of the Czech Republic.
One of the dishes served was was "chlebicky" (khlebeetschki), a type of sandwich people often ate during that time, the ambassador explained.
The sandwich brought back to life the feelings of the era for the guests at the Czech Information Center in Seoul, last Wednesday.
"It's a little difficult to eat, but it tastes good" was the most common reaction to the menu.
The other edible option for the night was a bread-based dish, topped with Czech potato salad, slices of meat and vegetables. The flavor combinations balanced out perfectly.
(Although it's probably best to avoid these dishes on a first date, as the flavors are quite pungent.)
The other complimentary aspect to the event was the selected background music, which was a collection of famous pop tunes approved by then Communist Czechoslovakia during 1989.
The exhibition will be open until the end of January with film screenings on human rights. For more information, visit the Web site: www.czechinfo.or.kr or mzv.cz/seoul