Korea, Russia celebrate 30 years of cultural exchange

Lee Sang-kyun, president of the Korea-Russia Culture and Arts Society, delivers an opening speech at an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the two countries' cultural exchanges held by the organization at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Seoul Cyber University

By Bahk Eun-ji

The Korea-Russia Culture and Arts Society (KORACS) said Monday it had held a virtual international conference last week to discuss active cultural exchanges and future relations between Korea and Russia with the Gorchakov Fund.

Under the theme of “30 Years of Korea-Russia Culture and Arts Exchange and Future Tasks,” the global conference took place Thursday at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, according to KORACS.

The seminar marked 30 years of cultural and art exchanges between the two countries and discussed the direction for future relations and cooperation.

At the conference which was held virtually in Seoul and Moscow in real time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee Sang-kyun, president of KORACS and chairman of the board of Seoul Cyber University, participated along with Gorchakov Fund executive director Leonid Drachevsky, Culture Minister Park Yang-woo, Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Seok-bae, Russian Ambassador to Korea Andrey Kulik and Seoul Arts Center head Son Sook, giving keynote speeches and congratulatory messages.

“During the last 30 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Russia, cultural and artistic exchanges between the two have been actively promoted, and the enthusiasm played a vital role in facilitating personnel exchanges as well in the fields of politics, economy and society,” KORACS President Lee said.

“In order to develop bilateral relations that share a special geopolitical position, such exchanges need to be further activated.”

He also expressed his special thanks to Leonid Drachevsky, who has been actively cooperating to further enhance bilateral relations and peace through cultural exchanges, and stressed that such strong friendship and cooperation should continue.

The Korea-Russia Culture Arts and Society is a non-profit organization established in 2013 to support cultural exchanges.

It plays an important role in cultural and diplomatic relations between the two countries, such as publishing a chronological table of Korean-Russian cultural and art exchange events, inviting renowned Russian artists and other key figures, holding international conferences and publishing newsletters for cultural and art exchanges.

This conference, which was scheduled to be held in Moscow, was held virtually via videoconferencing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries promised to build a platform for young artists.

The Gorchakov Fund, established in 2010, organizes events to provide support to the development of public diplomacy and improve the foreign policy image of Russia abroad.